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).
The survey of 1,000 manufacturers reveals that 61 per cent of respondents believe the government is performing badly on manufacturing policy, with 17 per cent of those polled saying the government is performing well.
Additionally, 35 per cent say they are less confident about the future of UK manufacturing compared with 23 per cent in 2012. A further 53 per cent of manufacturers polled think the government’s energy policies are performing ‘badly’.
Nearly three quarters of manufacturers polled said that the government is not doing enough with careers advice to promote science, engineering and manufacturing in schools, a view backed up by 55 per cent of members of the public who took part in the survey.
In a poll of 1,000 members of the public, 53 per cent said the uncertainty of surrounding the UK’s future in the EU is negatively affecting UK manufacturing, and 19 per cent believes Coalition policies are helping UK manufacturers.
86 per cent of manufacturers said the government is more committed to the financial sector than manufacturing, a view reflected by 51 per cent of the public.
In a statement Philippa Oldham, head of manufacturing at IMechE said: ‘It is clear from these findings that the majority of people, whether they work in manufacturing or not, believe the government is not doing enough to promote, help and support UK manufacturing.
‘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.
‘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. Indeed, people overwhelmingly said the UK government still remains far too committed to the financial sector, when it should be looking to the potential of manufacturing to spearhead economic recovery and lead the country towards growth.
‘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.
‘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.’
The independent telephone polls, commissioned by IMechE, were completed in March 2013.
MSS Research surveyed 1,000 members of the Institution currently working in the manufacturing sector. ICM conducted a separate poll of 1,000 members of the general public.
Recently some UK government bodies have awarded major grants to foreign companies in the offshore wind market including BlueH (Dutch), Principle Power,and Glosten Associates (both US) .. no wonder the UK manufacturing business is failing and in some cases there appears to be even better proven technology already in the UK which is being ignored.
What is going on? The French have no problem supporting their local industry but the UK seems to have less than 20:20 vision in this area!
To me people don’t understand that manufacturing itself should not be the government focus, as that is the final realisation of something else…..
Identifying global requirements, then developing desirable / workable solutions that we can build is surely where focus should be?
Of course this takes a long time and is a cultural issue of lack of investment in companies that take time to evolve. We in the UK are notoriously bad at this. The only real shining light is Dyson, as he did it his own way.
It has taken TaTa to show us how to build desirable vehicles after all!
Have a read of this, it’s not just the Brits however:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21992700
This injustice via finance industry bias is in addition to the inbuilt bias boost of “free” money as credit/debt is created by big banks. see “money as Debt”
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2550156453790090544
They need us as borrowers, for example as mortgaged loans are created. no wonder the gov wants to talk things up for finance it is one of the only things they understand. This inflation-supporting money goes directly to sellers of property and banks have to wait years to get of it back (and devalued when they do due to inflation). but they get the whole of the interest on it electronically simply for assessing the security for the loan and sending out the statements (some of the money is actually re-lent from savers funds. considering they only need a mark-up of about 1.5% it’s a “bit rich” that they can be allowed to create it and charge up to 6% (or 7 or nearly 8% for Green Deal finance thus holding back the green investments so sorely needed. Written into the rules of the green investment bank is the one that they must not undercut the other bank rates. what is the good of that to increase investment? Why not get in touch via ian.greenwood@phonecoop.coop for “Towards a fairer society, gas savings and warmth”? the bonus is a very good make-over plan for YOUR building as well as a suggestion government finance to properly stimulate government towards green investment! over to you George Osb.