A POSITIVE STRATEGY FOR MANUFACTURING, THE KEY WILL BE IN THE DELIVERY

Published : September 08, 2008

What stood out for MTA on its first look at this report were the following initiatives:

The development of a new Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry focused on the development and application of high integrity joining and fabrication, expertise in tooling, automation and operational performance with industrial scale pre-production and demonstration facilities.

The emphasis on the skills base and attracting talent into manufacturing. MTA supports the more flexible framework proposed to meet employers' skills demands. We welcome the extra money for a flexible support framework for the advanced manufacturing and process sectors.

MTA had called for simplification of business support especially in what is being offered in skills, investment and exporting. It is clear the Government has listened and we cautiously welcome the Business Links acting as the primary access point for manufacturers, especially in addressing the skills needs. We also support in theory the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES), which will be designed to simplify the skills system itself.

MTA supports the creation of Manufacturing Insight, which is tasked to raise the profile of manufacturing, especially to young people. MTA are committed to raising the profile of manufacturing in the UK. We therefore also support the launch of a Manufacturing the Future campaign in schools to promote manufacturing careers prospects for young people.

The proposed Apprenticeship Ambassadors are a good idea. We strongly support the idea of expanding high quality apprenticeships and getting larger manufacturing companies to train additional apprentices to help their supply chain. This works very effectively in countries such as Germany.

MTA supports the Government's commitment to new build nuclear as part of its energy strategy. MTA has itself identified this as a key business prospect for our sector in the coming years together with decommissioning and the prospects of a global nuclear renaissance. MTA strongly welcomes the commitment to build a supply chain in the UK around this strategic industry. MTA also recognises the potential for its members to do business in the renewable energy sector, which the Government also highlights in the report.

Simon McVicker, MTA External Affairs Manager, commented, "My initial reaction to this important document is that it is a positive, ambitious and committed to manufacturing. I believe the Government has listened to those of us involved in advanced engineering in manufacturing. However the analysis also clearly shows how manufacturing in the economy has declined in the past 10 years and hopefully this strategy will reverse that trend.

 There could have been more on the UK's export strategy but we are aware that UKTI are working on their own strategy.

 Ultimately this strategy can only be judged on the delivery of these proposals and the long-term effect they will have on the many SMEs in manufacturing. The one major disappointment is that the role of trade associations does not seem to have been recognised and MTA believe that this is key in delivering this sort of strategy. For that reason I believe we will have to talk further to the Government."

¹ Manufacturing: New Challenges, New Opportunities. Published by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, September 2008

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