As part of the inaugural National Manufacturing Day Mike Maddock, Vice Chair of the Make UK Yorkshire & Humber regional board, represented the organisation today when South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard visited the McLaren Automotive Ltd team at their Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) facility.
The McLaren Composites Technology Centre was opened in 2019 as part of McLaren’s plans to increase the rate of innovation of the lightweight carbon fibre chassis that are at the heart of all its cars. The new McLaren Artura – a high-performance hybrid supercar is the first of McLaren’s road cars to feature a carbon fibre chassis developed at the MCTC.
Mike commented; “It was an honour to represent Make UK on this important day for UK manufacturing, and to help host the visit of the new regional mayor.
“Its great to see what McLaren are doing here, both in terms of onshoring the type of work previously undertaken overseas and also by helping increase the experience and expertise of manufacturing within UK plc.”
Led by Make UK, National Manufacturing Day was an opportunity for manufacturers to showcase what they do, highlight the truly diverse nature of industry, and promote the range of exciting careers and jobs on offer in the manufacturing sector.
On the same day a report ‘Manufacturing: State of the Industry, the Potential for Growth’ was released which suggests that UK manufacturers have ambitions to grow their business and increase employment over the next five years.
Amongst the findings of the report,
• A BOLDER AND MORE AMBITIOUS VISION FOR MANUFACTURING IS NEEDED – Government needs to set a bolder vision for manufacturing. The Government’s ‘Plan for Growth’ is failing to hit the mark with manufacturers and there is a fear that ambitions to transition to net zero, build a workforce of the future and a Global Britain, will be at risk without more dedicated action and targeted support for sectors such as manufacturing
• 90% OF MANUFACTURERS THINK THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD INTRODUCE A NATIONAL TARGET TO GROW MANUFACTURING’S SHARE OF GDP – Supplementing this target should be a long-term manufacturing strategy. Manufacturers are clear that without a strategic plan to tackle the immediate issues and plan for the future, the UK risks shrinking our industrial base at a time when we need it the most.
• GROWING OUR MANUFACTURING SECTOR TO 15% OF UK GDP (FROM CURRENT 10%) COULD ADD AN ADDITIONAL £142BN WORTH OF OUTPUT TO THE UK ECONOMY
The full report can be found here.
