Plaudits for industrial strategy marred by disappointment over chemicals ‘exclusion’
3 Jul 2025
Chemical Business Association CEO Tim Doggett has expressed “deep disappointment” over the absenceof the chemical supply chain and the wider chemical sector from the Government’s industrial strategy.
The strategy’s 10-year plan will encourage growth in eight key sectors. However, the so-called IS-8 list does not include the chemical sector and mentions only aspects of its supply chain said Doggett.
“The UK’s chemical sector is the backbone of modern manufacturing and wider UK industry. Chemicals are one of the critical national infrastructure sectors, so to omit it from the Industrial Strategy sends the wrong message,” he warned.
“Over 97% of all manufactured products contain inputs from the chemical sector. Combined with pharmaceuticals, the chemical sector is the nation’s second largest export. It is also a major contributor to the UK economy, with CBA members alone contributing more than £5 billion and employing over 10,000 people nationwide.”
He added that the exclusion contrasted with Chancellor Rachel Reeves on the record citation in June 2024 of plans to develop a ‘bespoke’ arrangement for the chemical sector.
More enthusiastic responses came from EngineeringUK, the High Value Manufacturing Catapult (HVMC) and the National Composite Centre (NCC), whose roles and members received more explicit recognition in the strategy.
HVMC CEO Katherine Bennett called the industrial strategy a “pivotal step towards transforming the UK into an industrial powerhouse”.
"As partners to government we have helped shape the strategy and the advanced manufacturing sector plan,” she added.
“We now look forward to supporting delivery to ensure the UK has the people, the places and the potential to be a net zero manufacturing superpower."
Royal Academy of Engineering president Sir John Lazar also praised the strategy for recognising the need for a “holistic, long-term approach to driving growth, coordinated across government departments”.
“It recognises major barriers the engineering community has highlighted, such as energy costs, skills and technology adoption, and the importance of the engineering skills,” he continued.
“The devil will be in the detail of delivery, so that this ambition tangibly changes the fortunes of the engineering businesses that drive employment and growth across the country.”
Stephen Phipson, CEO of Make UK, a consistent critic of the perceived lack of direction in Whitehall industrial policy for years, was also enthusiastic, commenting:
“Today is one of the most important days for British industry in a generation. In launching the modern industrial strategy white paper, Jonathan Reynolds has demonstrated the Government’s commitment to honour its promises and tackle the major structural problems that have blighted UK manufacturing for so long and we congratulate him for doing so.
Click here to view the industrial strategy.
