Manufacturing in Bradford “punching above its weight” but needs to inspire the next generation

“Manufacturing is very much alive and kicking within the city and surrounding district. We have some world class companies here who are punching very much above their weight,” said the President of Bradford Chamber of Commerce when he addressed members at the organisation’s annual dinner last night.

Nick Garthwaite said that the city’s output contributed £9.5bn GVA to the economy. Of that, the manufacturing sector produces one-fifth of overall district output and 70% of the district’s exports.

Nearly 1,200 manufacturing firms in Bradford employ around 26,500 people.  This includes 5,500 jobs in food and drink manufacturing, 1,000 in textiles/clothing and 7,350 in engineering.

Nick Garthwaite

Garthwaite added: “It, of course, does have its challenges  – not least being the need to recruit good people into its ranks. This challenge is something that all businesses have faced for decades, some great initiatives over the years have sought to address this, ensuring that we have people coming into work who are “work ready.
“In 1967, Harold Wilson famously said that if the country was to prosper, a “new Britain” would have to be forged in the White heat of a scientific revolution. Here we are, more than 50 years later and now facing the task of creating a new Great Britain, not just out of Brexit and Europe, but from the immediate challenge of the 4th Industrial revolution (Industry 4.0)  – the move towards digitisation in our smart factories.

“A new White heat of manufacturing digitisation is needed and needed in our factories here in Bradford.”

Due to this, the chamber will host its first ever Bradford Manufacturing Week next year.

He added: “This is an opportunity for the manufacturing sector to showcase and highlight to guests and visitors from the region what Bradford is capable of, what it is doing about Industry 4.0; to attract young people in our manufacturing businesses, to demonstrate why people should enter work in this fascinating sector. Indeed why businesses should invest and locate themselves here also.
“We aim to change old fashioned perceptions of manufacturing and apprenticeships as positive career options.”