UK still 'not committed to manufacturing'
3 Apr 2013
London – The Government is failing to promote UK manufacturing and remains more committed to the financial sector than UK industry, according to a poll commissioned by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).
Indeed, the survey of 1,000 manufacturers found that 61% of respondents believed the Government was performing badly on manufacturing policy. Just 17% of those polled said it was performing well.
Moreover, 35% were less confident about the future of UK manufacturing - compared with 23% last year. While 53% of manufacturers polled thought the Government’s energy policies are performing “badly”.
Almost three quarters (73%) of manufacturers polled said that the Government was not doing enough with careers advice to promote science, engineering and manufacturing in schools - with just over half of the public agreeing.
In a poll of 1,000 members of the public, 53% said the uncertainty of surrounding the UK’s future in the EU is negatively affecting UK manufacturing, and only 19% believes Coalition policies are helping UK manufacturers.
Meanwhile 86% of manufacturers - and 51% of the public - said the Government is more committed to the financial sector than manufacturing.
The findings show that most people, whether they work in manufacturing or not, believe the Government is not doing enough to promote, help and support UK manufacturing, according to Philippa Oldham, head of manufacturing at the IMechE.
“Our survey in 2012 revealed that the Government’s manufacturing policies did not have the support of manufacturers or the public. One year on, it seems the situation has got worse,” said Oldham.
“The UK manufacturing sector should be at the very heart of a thriving economy, but there is little confidence among the respondents that the Government is doing enough to make this happen,” she added.
Indeed, the survey suggests that the UK Government still remains far too committed to the financial sector, when it should be looking to the potential of manufacturing to drive economic recovery.
“We have welcomed the interest shown in UK manufacturing by the main party leaders in recent months, but visits to factories and warm words of encouragement are not enough,” Oldham concluded.
“Government must set out a clear, long-term industrial strategy with cross-party support. This strategy must look to address the engineering skills shortage and provide greater financial incentives similar to the research and development tax credits already implemented.”