News story

Government takes action to grow advanced manufacturing

A review into how we can grow Advanced Manufacturing in the UK has started, Business Minister Mark Prisk announced today. The Growth Review…

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

A review into how we can grow Advanced Manufacturing in the UK has started, Business Minister Mark Prisk announced today.

The Growth Review Framework for Advanced Manufacturing published today examines how we can remove the barriers that are preventing the UK becoming Europe’s leading exporter of high value goods and stopping people from seeking a career in engineering.

As part of the Framework we are investing £50 million over three years in the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) which provides a highly valued advice service to industry making SMEs more productive and competitive.

In January we will hold an Advanced Manufacturing summit attended by Nick Clegg, Vince Cable and Mark Prisk as well as key manufacturing stakeholders and other Government departments.

Contributions from industry at this event and from responses to the framework will feed into the Advanced Manufacturing strand of the Government’s Growth Review which will announce policy proposals by Budget 2011.

Business Minister Mark Prisk said:

“A strong manufacturing base is essential for a balanced economy, where exports and investment drive growth, not debt and unsustainable government spending.

“The review into Advanced Manufacturing will see the Government align with industry in our shared ambition to put manufacturing industries on a more solid footing than in the past decade.

“I am looking forward to the manufacturing summit which will be an opportunity to agree actions that Government, industry and education can take over the next 10 years to meet our challenging ambitions.

“I am also pleased to announce that we are investing £50 million over three years in the Manufacturing Advisory Service so it can continue giving the support SMEs need to become more productive and competitive.

“While recent statistics have shown the future is bright for manufacturing the job losses announced by BAE systems yesterday show that there remains challenges that the Government will need to work with industry to address.”

The Department for Business Innovation and Skills are also contributing £600,000 for a two year automation and robotics programme to be developed and run by the Engineering and Machinery Alliance (EAMA) and the British Automation and Robot Association (BARA). The programme will better prepare companies to introduce new automated/ robotic systems and help them operate them effectively.

Notes to editors

  1. For copies of the Growth Review Framework for Advanced Manufacturing document and supporting analytical paper please visit http://www.bis.gov.uk/.

  2. Manufacturers can also respond directly to the following mailbox - amgr@bis.gsi.gov.uk .

  3. The third of BIS’s exhibitions showcasing UK manufacturing started in 1 Victoria Street today to launch the Framework.

  4. Exhibits demonstrating how the UK is a world leader in manufacturing include:

  5. Ford EcoBoost engine - this high-tech, low emission engine is designed, engineered and built in Britain. Across the world, one in three Ford vehicles has a UK-made engine.

6.Brompton - Brompton won a Queen’s Award for Innovation and International Trade in 2010. Their famous bike, designed and manufactured in London, is safe, agile and fast, yet folds into a highly compact package.

7.Alicat Workboats - Alicat’s innovative, high-spec catamarans are built in Great Yarmouth to support the development of offshore wind turbines.

  1. Airbus - A snapshot of the Airbus supply chain shows the UK companies which provide components, including Rolls-Royce and wing-makers GKN.

  2. The BIS online newsroom contains the latest press notices, speeches, as well as video and images for download. See http://www.bis.gov.uk/newsroom for more information.

Notes to Editors

Contact Information

Name BIS Press Office Job Title

Division COI Phone

Fax

Mobile

Email NDS.BIS@coi.gsi.gov.uk

Name Ashley Rogers. Job Title

Division Department for Business, Innovation and Skills Phone 020 7215 5971 Fax

Mobile

Email ashley.rogers@bis.gsi.gov.uk

Published 10 December 2010