Manifesto for manufacturing
Published: 09 August, 2009
EEF, the manufacturers' organisation has published its manifesto for manufacturing.
'Manufacturing Our Future." sets out a vision for manufacturing at the centre of a more diverse and durable UK economy and makes bold recommendations to back it including a National Economic Council charged with delivering it and a new Industrial Bank.
There are glimmers of recognition from across the political spectrum that action is needed to equip the UK to meet the strategic challenges that lie ahead and put the economy on a more sustainable path.
EEF's strategy for a more diverse, agile and innovative manufacturing sector speaks to both manufacturers and government. It plots a course for a stronger and relatively larger manufacturing base which could provide the solutions to future challenges and help the UK pay its way in the world.
The growth of sectors such as aerospace; medical equipment and energy will be vital if the UK is to provide the solutions to climate change, demographic shifts and future security needs with domestic manufacturing capacity.
Commenting, EEF chief executive, Gilbert Toppin, said: "Manufacturing must play a bigger role in our economy if we are to meet the challenges facing us over the next decade. It can be a major player in addressing climate change and meeting our demographic and security challenges as well as helping to claw back the twin deficits in the public sector and on trade.
"But this will only happen if our manufacturers show the ambition and make the investments needed to achieve this and the government sets out a framework that gives them the confidence to do it. In particular, the government must set out its priorities for the technologies and markets we need to develop and the steps it will take to help the UK succeed in them."
