Industrial strategy - building a competitive business environment for manufacturers

UK manufacturers have been calling for a long-term vision for the industry for decades, with 99% of manufacturers saying it is essential to seriously competing on the global stage.

As the sector faces productivity challenges, skills shortages, global competition, and environmental pressures, a long-term vision for manufacturing, supported by an effective industrial strategy is what’s required. 

In partnership with Make UK, our survey of over 150 UK manufacturers, has gathered feedback on what should be prioritised within an industrial strategy that will help to ensure a competitive business environment for the sector in future. Our research has focussed on: 

• changes needed to our current tax and regulatory environment;
• local and national infrastructure investment priorities; and
• governments plans to utilise place-based incentives (such as freeports and investment zones) to generate economic growth.

The manufacturing industry is embarking upon a period of seismic change and a plan is needed.