Green bend on UK manufacturing roadmap

London - A "renewed Manufacturing Strategy" will look at how the Government can help UK industry take advantage of opportunities presented by tackling climate change while ensuring that the UK is at the forefront of developing and manufacturing new green technologies, business secretary John Hutton said 22 Nov.

The current Manufacturing Strategy, published in 2002, has yielded initiatives such as the Manufacturing Advisory Service that provide manufacturers with direct access to local, practical advice and hands-on support from experts. The new strategy,  said Hutton, will address that challenge and pay particular attention to opportunities for Britain to lead global markets created by the need to tackle climate change.

A new Ministerial Advisory Group on Manufacturing involving the CBI, TUC and EEF will participate in renewing the strategy. The group, said Hutton, will provide expert advice on key areas such as innovation, skills, training, image and low carbon manufacturing - as well as helping Government address the full range of issues that are important to the manufacturing sector.