BUSINESSNEWS
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UK MANUFACTURING contributed to a 1.1 percent increase in total production between November and December 2016 , according to Office for National Statistics figures . These latest figures come amongst the highest levels of optimism seen in the sector since June 2015 . Yet as the weaker pound continues to be a double-edged sword for British industry , the manufacturing sector must become a priority area for innovations that will help UK businesses to compete globally , says systems integrator World Wide Technology ( WWT ).
The stated aim of the government ’ s new industrial strategy is to determine priority areas of investment in science , research
IoT investment must not leave Britain behind
and innovation to support the UK ’ s world leading sectors . Following the latest forecast ($ 20.59bn investment ) new research suggests that the Asia-Pacific region will see exponential growth in this area . The capacity of the sensorbased technology to boost productivity and profitability must not be ignored in Britain .
Ben Boswell , EMEA Director at WWT says : “ It ’ s great to see this return to optimism in UK manufacturing , but the level of uncertainty in the market means that every effort must be taken now to make the sector sustainable .
“ Strategic application of Internet of Things ( IoT ) technologies across the business lines of manufacturers can have a significant impact on productivity and cost . Over in the US , we ’ ve seen a global manufacturer lined up to achieve $ 1 billion in annual savings beginning this year . The data-driven rigour of the connected factory is helping them to reduce machine down-time through predictive maintenance and automated repair , for example .
“ But applying IoT – and achieving these considerable savings – is a complex undertaking . Many IoT initiatives rush to deploy technology and fail to pay attention to the critical underlying IoT infrastructure . This can lead to a fragmented solution that may not be secure , sustainable or scalable . At worst , an IoT solution is barely more than a gimmick and becomes an added cost burden which fails to unlock business outcomes .
“ At their best though , these solutions offer a competitive edge simply through the smart analysis of routine processes . With optimism high but potential bumps around the corner , the time has never been better for government and industry alike to prioritise the innovations that will deliver sharply focused and sustainable business outcomes for years to come .”
Helping Safety Supporters
The British Safety Council has launched a free , special one-year 60th Anniversary Supporter offer for small organisations and charities to help them manage health , safety and environmental risks .
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RESPONDING TO THE CHALLENGES of time , resources and the shortage of health and safety expertise among the smallest companies , the British Safety Council is inviting small and micro-sized organisations ( under 50 employees ) and small charities ( under 100 employees ) from across the world , to join it as Supporters .
Small and medium-size enterprises account for 47 % of private sector turnover and 60 per cent of the sector ’ s workforce . It is a very diverse group of businesses , since they include both sole traders and companies . Almost 82 % of SMEs are micro businesses , with under 10 employees . These figures demonstrate the complexity of the sector and the inherent pressures these organisations face in tacking workplace health and safety risks .
The Supporter offer is one of the initiatives , which the British Safety Council is launching in 2017 to celebrate 60 years of its campaigning activities and its contribution to improving the safety and health of workers in Britain and abroad .
Supporters will enjoy a range of services and benefits , free of charge , for 12 months , to help them manage health and safety risks in their organisations .
A SUPPORTER WILL RECEIVE :
• A limited-edition Supporter logo , which they can use to show their commitment to health and safety ;
• Access to a 24 / 7 telephone helpline with practical guidance and technical advice ;
• Free places for all employees on the British Safety Council ’ s General Health , Safety and Environmental Awareness e-learning course , ideal for inductions ;
• Online risk assessment templates that include general risk assessment , fire and manual handling ;
• Digital edition of the monthly Safety Management magazine ;
• Electronic posters and guides that focus on themes such as stress , lone working and manual handling ;
• Hear about opportunities to meet and engage with experts and peers tackling similar issues in their sector at the British Safety Council ’ s events and seminars .
Jigna Patel , Membership and Service Delivery Director at the British Safety Council , said : “ We are delighted that we can offer tailored support to the smallest businesses and charities through our Supporter offer , something which could help them put health and safety at the heart of their business .”
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