INDUSTRYNEWS
SPONSORED BY SKS
Driving economic growth with
manufacturing innovation
Britain has a proud heritage as a world-class manufacturing base and must
continue to maintain its technological competitive edge. MTA Director General,
Graham Dewhurst discusses some of the great examples of innovation in action,
ahead of MACH 2014, the UK’s largest manufacturing technologies show.
Britain’s manufacturers have always
led the innovation curve and today
Britain is home to major players in
automotive, aerospace, and other
advanced engineering disciplines, as
well as world-leading life science and
pharmaceutical companies.
The UN Statistics Division ranks Britain
second globally for aerospace, and places
it ninth in terms of manufacturing output.
Britain is also said to be the fourth largest
vehicle producer in Western Europe.
Last year, it produced 1.58 million
vehicles, according to the Society of
Motor Manufacturers and Traders, with
a car, van, bus or truck rolling off a UK
production line every 20 seconds – more
than 80 per cent of which are exported to
over 100 countries.
With 2.63 million people currently
employed directly in Britain’s
manufacturing sector (ONS, 2013) the
future of our industry depends on its
ability to maintain its technological
competitive edge. Engineering-based
manufacturing, with its need to invest
for the future and remain internationally
competitive, has been leading the way
back to economic recovery. The ONS
estimates that engineering-based
manufacturing industries contributed
£212 billion to the UK economy and
accounted for £129 billion of exports in
2012.
Technology strategy takes centre stage
Britain’s industrial base is now
recognised as holding as important a
place in the economy as sectors such as
financial and professional services. The
UK Government is looking to rebalance
the economy, rebuild supply chains and
nurture artisan skills.
One organisation tasked with furthering
these objectives is the Technology
Strategy Board which works across
business, academia and government to
24
MAR/APR 2014
help companies take ideas through to
commercialisation by providing access to
finance, knowledge, skills and equipment.
The Board is currently overseeing the
creation of a network of world-leading
technology and innovation centres
known as ‘Catapults’ and covering a
range of sectors including High Value
Manufacturing.
Some great ideas come out of academia,
and the High Value Manufacturing
Catapult is now helping to move those
ideas very quickly and effectively into
the market through more collaborative
business models across the supply
chain. The Catapults represent a win-win
scenario, whereby Britain’s engineering
and science graduates and apprentices
are nurtured in a high-technology and
innovative environment that will ensure
they are fit-for-purpose when they
enter the global economy. This strong
foundation of trained staff and welleducated students will enable the UK to
continue to successfully compete on the
international stage.
Step change not revolution
Mechanical engineering and
manufacturing provide long-term and
exciting careers, where white coats
and clean techs have replaced the blue
overalls and outdated smoke belching
technologies of the past. Despite being
ignored for some time, the innovators
have continued to innovate, ensuring
Britain still boasts truly world-class
and high-value-added industries. In
terms of value, we are number two
globally for aero engines and wing
technologies, we’re making big strides in
n [