With growing opportunities for the UK’s manufacturers in
industrial digitisation, innovation and emerging new markets, the
CBI will be establishing a new Manufacturing Council to help
support the UK’s makers.
Manufacturing currently makes up around 10% of the UK
economy and accounts for over two-thirds of all UK spend on
research and development, so it is vital that its voice is heard
and helps shape the UK’s future economic performance.
The new CEO-level council will bring together dozens of the
UK’s top manufacturers – small, medium and large – from across
the country and will be chaired by Tom Crotty, Group Director of
Ineos. At the heart of the group’s work will be:
-
Shaping the skills agenda to build a UK workforce fit to
adapt to AI and digitisation
-
Building a new visionary industrial strategy that
supports productivity
-
Creating pathways to the delivery of the UK’s target of
3% of GDP invested in R&D by 2020
-
Delivering a Brexit that works for the UK’s manufacturing
base.
Carolyn Fairbairn, CBI Deputy Director-General,
said:
“A strong and diverse UK manufacturing industry is the
foundation of a robust economy. And with the global economy
changing at a dizzying pace, it has never been more important
that its voice is heard loud and clear. Building on our strengths
in innovation, science and emerging technologies, the prize is to
make the UK one of the greatest success stories of the next wave
of global industrialisation.
“Our surveys show that UK manufacturers are on the march,
with production and orders growing strongly, but with the
challenges posed by Brexit, everything possible must be done to
ensure they can stay ahead of the game. It is a time to build the
confidence to invest and export, creating new high quality jobs
across the country.”
Tom Crotty, Group Director of Ineos,
said:
”A vibrant manufacturing sector is essential to the growth
of the UK economy. It provides high quality, skilled
jobs, boosts the country’s trade position and allows the UK to
compete in a challenging and changing world. The CBI
is the voice of UK business and I am very proud to bring together
some of the country’s best manufacturers, both large and small,
as we look to grow our vital manufacturing base.”
