Member Article

EEF welcomes UK Manufacturing Consultation

The government have launched a new consultation into the future of manufacturing to explore how the UK can exploit future opportunities.

Over the next two years, the Foresight Project will call on industry and academic expertise to look at the future of manufacturing until 2050, investigating global trends and drivers of change.

The project has received backing from the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills under the direction of the Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Sir John Beddlington and will inform policy throughout the duration of the project and beyond.

The news will be welcomed by many manufacturers in the North East who will hope to benefit from the research.

Commenting on the announcement of a new Foresight project, Tony Sarginson of EEF in the North East, the manufacturers’ organisation, said: “For a region like the North East, this is a welcome recognition of the growing importance of manufacturing to a new and rebalanced economy.

“By setting out a vision for the type of modern economy we will need it gives government the opportunity to shape the business environment to realise this.

“In tandem with these medium to long term aims, we also need to lay the foundations by getting the short term right which means sweeping away the immediate barriers to growth which are holding North East companies back from investing now.”

The project will also have a High Level Stakeholder Group to advise on its strategic direction and impact, including senior individuals within the public and private sector.

Speaking at the Financial Times Future of UK Manufacturing Conference, Business Secretary Vince Cable said:
“Manufacturing has a key role to play in economic growth, in particular driving exports and productivity.

“But as industries and technologies evolve, we need to make sure we’re staying ahead of the game.

“The Government is working with business to support and strengthen the UK’s manufacturing capability, through action to drive up investment, innovation, exports and skills.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .