The recent UK election resulted in a decisive victory for the Labour Party. Major changes are expected for the manufacturing and engineering sectors, driven by policies and an annual fund of £28 billion for green energy and infrastructure. However, there are still uncertainties regarding supply chain issues and skills shortages that need to be addressed to ensure sustained growth and stability for the sector.
We reached out to two industry experts to gather their insights on what the election results might mean for the future of these critical industries. Andrea Wilson, Director at Hone-All Prec Ltd, and an active advocate for the UK manufacturing sector, and Marc Thirkell, Magazine Manager at MEM Group, who deeply understands industry trends and challenges.
Here’s what they had to say.
Economic Policies
Andrea Wilson: I am hoping Labour will stay true to their commitments to Engineering and Manufacturing. They have promised a cohesive and collaborative approach to Industry, Industrial Strategy and the formation of an Industrial Council. This is more than we ever achieved with the previous Government
Marc Thirkell: With an industrial strategy laid out for the UK by the new Government and in particular the delivery of clean power. There is an obvious opportunity here in the UK for innovation which we are focused on in MEM
Regulatory Changes and Labour Market
Andrea Wilson: Regulator Labours plans for employment reform will have little effect on the good employers within Manufacturing. However, I do think that immediate rights at Day 1 is a mistake as it takes time for people to settle into a new position and for skills / values and characteristics to come to the forefront. This will simply harm the good employers…the bad ones will simply do what they always did regardless of regulation! y Changes
Marc Thirkell: I expect a British based supply chain to be enshrined in law for key manufacturing areas as promised by the new Government in making Britain a ‘global leader in producing electric cars, in engineering nuclear technologies, in developing hydrogen’. (Quote from James Reynolds – Secretary of State for Business and Trade and President of the Board of Trade)
Addressing Skills Shortages
Andrea Wilson: I hope Labour will completely reform the Apprenticeship Levy and consider utilising some of the funds by introducing a Training and Development Tax Credit. This could transform the skills landscape within 2-3 years by returning to tried and tested in-company apprenticeships.
Marc Thirkell: In terms of skills shortages and addressing the issues across all aspects of engineering, robotics and apprenticeships. I hope that this will be addressed as part of a wider industrial strategy where Universities and Colleges are guided to offer courses that will offer real jobs for UK based students from electronics to engineering we do not offer enough actual courses within our education system that can support the UK growing with a local workforce. In the meantime with a new Government, we can hopefully look to our partners in Europe for some support in terms of skills.
Support for Technological Innovation and Research
Andrea Wilson: Labour are focusing on growth. The biggest growth will come through manufacturing and creating an environment which encourages and promotes innovation, research and development. The next, and most important, step would then to ensure we have a business landscape which retains that innovation and manufactures the products here in the UK rather than losing them to the US or elsewhere!
Marc Thirkell: This remains to be seen in terms of actual support and there are many areas that need to be addressed from the modular Nuclear supply chain to the clean technologies within our Buses and Trains.
Concerns and Hopes for the Future
Andrea Wilson: My biggest hopes are that Labour engages with businesses of all sizes within our Industry and they really are the party to drive Change and economic growth. It’s time for a fresh approach and a review of “what was.” My biggest concern is that the promises are not kept and we end up with the same lack of understanding and recognition we’ve suffered from for the last 14 years!
Marc Thirkell: I am concerned that we continue to lose ground in the key new technologies to markets that do not offer our levels of safety and engineering security. We will need to address the issues around certification and safety on EV technologies highlighted in the rise in unsafe consumer electronics products being sold without UK certification. This can be seen in product recalls in Retail being tightened and hopefully an investment in Trading Standards and an insistence on UK Certification conducted within the UK for all suppliers to UK manufacturing.
At Advanced Engineering, we recognise the significance of these discussions in shaping the future of our industries. By bringing together perspectives from various stakeholders within the sector, we aim to shed light on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. As the new government’s policies unfold, we are committed to providing a platform for industry leaders to share their insights and drive innovation and growth in manufacturing and engineering.
