by Nuno Caldeira-Pereira | Jan 17, 2019 | Sectors, Sectors 2018
The first man-made plastic was invented in the UK in the 19th century and it remains a key domestic industry, with an annual turnover of around £25.5bn and the third largest employment figures of any manufacturing sector. The UK plastics industry today is heavily...
by Nuno Caldeira-Pereira | Jan 17, 2019 | Sectors, Sectors 2018
2018 saw the UK metals industry in apparent good health. The steel industry was buoyant, with UK players investing to upgrade their facilities and making overseas acquisitions. Lightweighting remained a key market driver for aluminium, particularly in the context of...
by Nuno Caldeira-Pereira | Jan 17, 2019 | Themes, Themes 2018
A destructively high level of takeover activity has characterised UK manufacturing for many years, both ‘domestic’ acquisitions by UK companies, predominantly quoted or private equity, and ‘inward’ acquisitions by foreign companies. Exhibit 1 shows the longer-term...
by Nuno Caldeira-Pereira | Jan 17, 2019 | Sectors, Sectors 2018
Above: The new Costa roastery in Basildon, Essex, before it opened for full production. Shortages of skilled and unskilled labour will become more acute as the realities of exiting the EU bite – in whatever form that exit plays out. Other effects already evident by...
by Nuno Caldeira-Pereira | Jan 17, 2019 | Themes, Themes 2018
THE PICTURE IS PATCHY AS BREXIT CASTS A SHADOW Nervousness mixed with optimism: that sums up the mood among manufacturers as they contemplate the investment picture in 2019, as Brexit looms. Over the past year many industrial groups have put off capital spending or...
by Nuno Caldeira-Pereira | Jan 17, 2019 | Themes, Themes 2018
Despite pressure on margins within the manufacturing sector salaries continue to rise, driven by skill shortages and the need for a new breed of high-tech workers The British Chamber of Commerce’s economic survey for the final quarter of 2018 highlights the challenges...
by Nuno Caldeira-Pereira | Jan 17, 2019 | Regions, Regions 2018, Themes, Themes 2018, West Midlands
Above: The Ironbridge Gorge, where the Industrial Revolution started FROM THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION TO INDUSTRY 4.0 The pace of change in manufacturing is faster than ever before. But as the sector embraces the opportunities of Industry 4.0 it can draw inspiration...
by Nuno Caldeira-Pereira | Jan 17, 2019 | Sponsored Content
THE LORD BAMFORD, DLFAMILY BUSINESSES MUST BE HEARD The importance of family businesses should never be underestimated. They are often ignored by policymakers in Westminster in spite of the fact that there are 4.8 million family businesses in the UK employing 12.2...
by Nuno Caldeira-Pereira | Jan 17, 2019 | Regions, Regions 2018
Above: Xtrac’s new manufacturing extension was officially opened by the Prime Minister in November 2018. THE COMBINED LONDON AND SOUTH EAST REGION REMAINS BY FAR THE UK’S BIGGEST, IN TERMS OF TOTAL OUTPUT. IT IS ALSO THE LARGEST MANUFACTURING REGIONAL ECONOMY,...
by Nuno Caldeira-Pereira | Jan 16, 2019 | Regions, Regions 2018
Above: Tata Steel is investing £75 million in repair and refurbishment work at its Port Talbot plant. MANUFACTURERS IN WALES ARE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC, DESPITE THE UNCERTAINTY AND CHALLENGES THEY FACE. THE CONSENSUS SEEMS TO BE THE WELSH GOVERNMENT HAS FINALLY DEVISED...
