Manufacturing in the Midlands

When in 1896 the first four-wheel British petrol car hurtled down the streets of Birmingham, local residents couldn’t have known what was to follow. The drive heralded the arrival of the largest concentration of motor manufacturers anywhere in Europe, bringing innovation, wealth and employment to the area.

By this time, the industrial revolution had already cemented the Midlands’ reputation as a hub of engineering excellence and expertise. Beginning in Shropshire and spreading to the rest of the world, manufacturers in the Midlands led the way in producing coal, iron, steel and ceramics.

More than a century later and from the potteries of north Staffordshire to the aerospace clusters in Derby and Wolverhampton, the region remains a prime centre of UK manufacturing expertise.

But this talent has taken a hit in recent times following recessions, company closures and high-profile job losses. In December 1996, 575,500 were employed in manufacturing throughout the region. By December 2010, this figure more than halved to 285,500.