Over recent years, manufacturing industry membership has grown, and as a result, a series of round table discussions have been developed specifically to address interests in the manufacturing sector.

Developing manufacturers into a dedicated cluster provides opportunity for business and functional leaders to share ideas, learn from each other and discuss innovative ways to improve their operations. Western Sydney Business Connection (WSBC) has expertise and experience to develop the Manufacturers Connection as it has developed a range of successful and unique networks in Western Sydney.

The Manufacturers Connection (MC) developed as a pilot program in 2010, with a series of roundtable discussions, seminars and site visits. The feedback has been overwhelmingly supportive and very positive.  The participants pledged their support of the current program format as it added value to their businesses.

Manufacturing in Western Sydney

Western Sydney Region includes 14 Local Council Areas and is the largest manufacturing region in Australia. Manufacturing is the largest industry sector in Western Sydney, and 110,000 of the 202,000 people employed in manufacturing in Sydney, are employed in Western Sydney.

The region generated more than $71 billion in economic value-added products in 2004-05, accounting for over 25% of the Gross Regional Product for New South Wales, making the Western Sydney economy one of the largest in Australia.(Source: GWS Investment Profile, GWSEDB.) With all this in mind, the data clearly indicates that the economic viability of Western Sydney is intrinsically linked to manufacturing and the value of such programs as the Manufacturers Connection.