As Liz Truss settles into her new role as Prime Minister, promising that the UK can ‘ride out' any post-pandemic turbulence (we agree with her on this, at least!), now is the ideal time for the Government to take decisive action to bolster perceptions of manufacturing and address the skills shortage that is affecting the industry at present.

In advanced capitalist economies like the UK, countries are judged on their economic strength. A healthy economy can help to bring jobs, raise living standards, improve public services, and promote social stability. But have we lost sight of what really matters in maintaining strong and stable economic growth?

Earlier this year, Labour leader Keir Starmer promised that his party would transform British manufacturing if elected to govern the country, citing a reduction in funding and the loss of over 93,000 jobs since 2010. Needless to say, pledges of this nature are cheap and easy to make in politics.

Despite the plethora of digital processes in the modern economy, recent research indicates that 96% of UK manufacturers feel there has been an underinvestment in digitisation in their sector.

The survey results span a diverse range of areas, from aerospace and defence to medical instruments and electronics, but the sentiments were consistent. Survey respondents overwhelmingly felt that overreliance on legacy technologies was harming the UK's manufacturing industries' prospects.

The issue of Brexit has dominated British politics for more than six years. Despite claims of "getting Brexit done", several issues remain unresolved and the repercussions for the UK economy have been quite significant – although we mustn’t forget how the

To be the best in your field as a business, you must attract the best talent.

Despite rapid innovations in automation technology in recent years, highly skilled and knowledgeable engineers remain the lifeblood of all successful engineering companies. However, the UK faces a significant ‘skills shortage’ in forthcoming years that threatens to undermine its position as a global leader in manufacturing, with the roots of the problem emerging as far back as primary education.

Launched by MAKE UK, 7^th July 2022 is National Manufacturing Day, a chance for schools, colleges, and communities across the country to enjoy a ‘keyhole look’ into some of the nation’s most well-known companies.

Many UK sectors face labour shortages as the impact of Brexit and the global pandemic continue to bite but, in manufacturing, the skills gap is particularly acute. A shortage of specialist skills threatens to disrupt manufacturing output and supply chains in an already uncertain trading landscape.

For two centuries, the UK has been a global leader in manufacturing: the birthplace, not only of the Industrial Revolution, but also of some of the most well-known and iconic brands the world has seen.

SMEs are an integral part of the UK’s manufacturing landscape. Accounting for over 90 per cent of all manufacturing businesses, SMEs contribute 25 per cent of GDP each year and play a crucial role in the export of billions of pounds of goods to Europe and beyond.