Manufacturing suffering from ‘inspiration gap’ Cable told

THE manufacturing sector is suffering from an “inspiration gap” a panel of experts has told Business Secretary Vince Cable.

Speaking at a Make it in Great Britain event in Manchester organised by Siemens Industry UK, Dr Cable was told that industry continues to lose the brightest graduates to the legal and financial sectors, and manufacturing is seen as dirty, unsophisticated and low paid and a riskier option than a career in the City.

Entrepreneur Will Butler-Adams, managing director of Brompton Bicycles, said the sector was suffering from such a large credibility gap, that the government should legislate from preventing everyday tradesmen such as plumbers from describing themselves as engineers.

Emma Bridgewater, founder of Stoke-on-Trent pottery business that bears her name said: “There is a massive problem with talent going not to industry but to other professions like finance and law.

“Manufacturing is not seen as glamorous – I think my own friends see me as some kind of hobbit.”

Other panellists at the event were Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, Vice Chancellor of Mancester University, Terry Scuoler, chief executive of EEF – the industry lobby and research groupand Juergen Maier, MD of Siemens Industry UK, which has £600m turnover and employs 2,000 people.

Dr Cable said the Government had tried to support manufacturing in three key areas: skills; research and development and in boosting the advanced manufacturing supply chain in certain sectors, including £25m to help the North West and West Midlands.

“In my department we have had a 25% cut in out budget, but we recognise that manufacturing is where innovation is in our economy, it’s a leading exporter too, so we have tried to support it in a targeted way.”

He heralded the success of the authomotive, aerospace and life-sciences sectors, as evidence that British manufacturing is world leading.

“I accept there is more to be done, but we do have some superb companies – it’s easy to get depressed sitting at a desk in London.”

Siemens boss Maier, said there is “still work to do” to make the UK a centre for industrial excellence.

“When Siemens is  looking to build a brand new facility, it’s not about energy costs or regulation. Question one is: ‘ Is there a market?’ and secondly: ‘Is there something here in terms of world class technololgy, research and development and skills?

“On this second point I think we have to work a bit harder in terms of our wider global image.”

Dr Cable argued this was less of an issue, and cited the recent commitment to the North West by Vauxhall’s owner General Motors.

“The Vauxhall Ellesmere Port decision was quite remarkable, in that it was a choice between Britain and Germany, and when I went to talk to the top people at General Motors, the key thing for them was the quality and attitude of the British workforce.

“The days of ‘Red Robbo’ and the trouble in the car manufacturing sector are long gone, and the environment is now very different.

“The unions and workforce at Vauxhall were incredibly co-operative and flexible – and worked with management to find a positive solution.”

The panel agreed that industry should do more to raise awarenesss among children and young adults to showcase what careers are available, and that manufacturing is “more than just metal bashing.”