Focus on “quality, cost and delivery” is helping bring production back to Yorkshire, according to latest soundings across the manufacturing sector.

And a Huddersfield firm is among those companies reporting a brighter picture for the sector in the latest Barometer survey conducted by the government’s Manufacturing Advisory Service.

Improving delivery performance is the main driver for small to medium-sized manufacturers in Yorkshire looking to bring production back to the UK, the survey said.

One in five respondents stated that concerns over lead times and reliability were the principal reasons for re-shoring, followed by reducing costs (17%) and improving quality (16%).

However, the cost of domestic labour continues to remain the biggest barrier for producing within the UK according to manufacturing SMEs – with well over one in 10 also concerned about the availability of the right skills.

David Caddle, MAS area director, said: “There is certainly a growing desire from our companies to bring production home, with 21% of firms surveyed either actively planning or considering re-shoring, compared to just 3% that have offshored in the last year.

“This marks a major change in approach from five years ago when the Far East and Eastern Europe seemed to be the destination of choice.”

He said: “Buyers have realised that there is more to the ‘landing’ price than meets the eye, with delays in logistics and issues around quality adding a whole layer of hidden costs.

“At MAS, we have experts in place who will work with companies to review the viability of re-shoring through cost/benefit analysis, not to mention supporting them in taking full advantage of new opportunities driven by UK manufacturing’s growing popularity.”

The Barometer, which featured the views of more than 60 manufacturing SMEs from across Yorkshire and Humber, reinforced the recent feel good factor, with 65% reporting an increase in sales over the last six months – 3% up on the previous quarter.

Some 78% of firms expect to grow between now and next April while 97% plan to take on new staff or keep the size of their workforce the same. Some 43% expect to embrace new technology while 52% plan to invest in machinery and premises

Huddersfield-based Westin Design, one of the companies questioned in the MAS Barometer, also took a positive line.

The firm, which makes prestige domestic cooker hoods for kitchen studios, has grown by more than 50% since the turn of the decade and is on course to smash the £3.5m annual sales barrier by the end of this year.

Director Ian Sheppard said: “We’ve had a really good three years and grown our market share significantly –predominantly through our bespoke design service, the quality of our products and the excellent customer service and response times you simply can’t get on the continent.

“There has also been over £750,000 invested into making our Leeds Road facility world class, with the acquisition of a new laser cutting machine, refurbishing the offices, workshop and the launch of a new design office.”

He said: “As a result of this growth, we have increased our workforce by four in the last two years, including two apprentices, taking the total number of staff employed to 39.”