Members from the UK’s fastest-growing manufacturing membership group have called on Ministers to prioritise British industry and reinstate the Industrial Strategy.
Members of the Made in Group, which includes Made in the Midlands and Made in Yorkshire, say that Britain can grow its position as a leading global industrial nation but the sector needs much greater and more effective support from the Government to do so.
Set up to champion and promote UK industry, the Made in Group is a peer-to-peer membership association with more than 500 members representing all sectors of manufacturing and engineering. Approximately 85% of members are owner-managed small and medium-sized businesses.
Representatives from more than 70 businesses attended a recent ‘Backing Britain’ parliamentary reception and called on ministers to debate and act on the following areas:
- Growing Britain’s manufacturing capacity
- Providing secure, clean and affordable energy for the long-term
- Safeguarding ownership of British businesses
Copies of an open letter outlining the actions needed to help grow Britain’s manufacturing capacity was placed in the pigeon-hole of every MP.
Also in attendance were MPs and Lords including Lord Whitby, Jackie Doyle-Price MP, Lee Anderson MP, Jack Brereton MP and Lord Carrington.
Chairman of the Made in Group, Lord Whitby, used his speech to clarify the manufacturing sector’s true contribution to the UK economy. Many account for the direct impact of industry, around 10% of GDP, but ignore the indirect and induced impact. Add these together and manufacturing accounts for well over 20% of GDP, he noted.*
Describing manufacturers as an invaluable “catalyst for growth,” Lord Whitby explained to guests that “manufacturers are essential for the Government's economic agenda and, most importantly, you are essential to supporting the UK’s growth agenda.”
Minister of State for Trade and Industry, Jackie Doyle-Price, said: “There are too many people who think manufacturing is just part of our heritage. Well, it’s not. It is a vital part of our futures. It is our job in government to ensure that we take the decisions to help manufacturing thrive and the manifesto we’ve just received on behalf of Made members is an excellent starting point.
“The points it makes are extremely good and I look forward to engaging with the Made in Group to deliver on them. I am here to champion everything that you do and I will be your ally. I don’t want you to hold back from telling me exactly what it is you think government needs to do. And from the conversations I’ve already had here today, I know that you won’t.”
Director of the Made in Group, Ilona Pitt, commented: “It was fantastic to see so many of our members come together in the heart of government to deliver a crucial message during such turbulent times.
“In the face of ongoing uncertainty, I’m reminded of the words of Sir Winston Churchill, “For myself, I am an optimist - it does not seem to be much use to be anything else.
“Thank you to everyone who took the time to join us and we hope that the conversations and connections formed here continue to bear fruit.”
“The Made in Group looks forward to working alongside the new Minister for Manufacturing and her team to ensure that the views and needs of British manufacturers are heard and inform policy decisions.”
For more information about becoming a member of the Made in Group, please contact Yasmin Banner via [email protected]
View Made in Group’s upcoming events at https://madeinthemidlands.com/events
*MTA and Oxford Economics: Direct Impact (output of businesses that are traditionally considered as manufacturers for the purposes of GDP calculation); Indirect Impact (UK manufacturing’s purchases of goods and services from UK suppliers and distributors); Induced Impact (spending by people employed directly and indirectly in manufacturing)
Header image courtesy of Made in Group: L to R - Lord Michael Whitby, Ilona Pitt - Made in Group, Jackie Doyle-Price MP, Jason Pitt - Made in Group and Charles Addison - Made in Group