Public believes manufacturing is critical to the UK economy

28 September, 2023

Stephen Phipson, CEO of Make UK said:“Manufacturing is the engine of economic growth and it is pleasing that the UK public shares our view that the sector is critical for the country’s economy.

Manufacturers have been working hard to reduce their energy use and slash carbon emissions – demonstrating their commitment to net zero. The pubic have recognised this with over half the public believes manufacturing is an environmentally friendly.

“The hard work and resilience of manufacturers over the last few years has paid off and this is reflected in the uptick of perceptions among the British public. But there is still work to be done as over half of children surveyed had not even considered a job in manufacturing. National Manufacturing Day is an opportunity to showcase what the sector has to offer to the next generation of makers, creators and innovators.”

John Sorsby, Business Development Manager, Sheffield Hallam University said: “Sheffield Hallam University has a rich heritage in supporting both the regional and national manufacturing sector and welcomes this report and the positive perceptions it highlights about UK manufacturing.

“The University is committed to working alongside manufacturing clients to understand the skills needs and develop talent pipelines that will meet the challenges facing the sector highlighted in the report.”

Minister for Industry and Economic Security Nusrat Ghani added: “The manufacturing sector plays a vital role in the UK economy, contributing £224bn in gross value added in 2022, directly supporting 2.6 million jobs and helping to drive innovation and exports.

“We are determined to provide UK manufacturers with the cutting edge over our competitors which is why we have developed our Critical Minerals Refresh and upcoming Critical Imports and Supply Chains strategy to help stimulate growth and ensure we can continue to land investment wins.”

Savanta surveyed 2,436 people between the 20th and 28th June 2023.

Read full report here: Perceptions vs Reality | Make UK

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