Manufacturers – tell us the issues that are of most concern
Manufacturing remains the cornerstone of the Midlands economy, responsible for hundreds of thousands of jobs and a significant proportion of the region’s economic output.
World-class research and commercialisation of technology gives the Midlands a deserved international reputation.
One benefit of the Brexit vote has been the resultant decline in the value of sterling which has helped to make the cost of British-produced goods far more competitive.
Partly as a result of this, the manufacturing sector enjoyed a strong end to 2017 and confidence within the sector remains high.
However, challenges remain, notably for skills, with many firms fearful of where they will find the next generation of their workforce.
The Government consulted widely ahead of the publication last year of its Industrial Strategy green paper.
But has the landscape changed since then?
In order to provide an up-to-the-minute picture of what is happening in the Midlands manufacturing sector, TheBusinessDesk.com and KPMG is collaborating on a joint initiative.
We want to hear from the region’s manufacturers about the issues that matter most to them – the impact of Brexit, investment, skills and Government policy affecting the sector.
We will collate the responses and report on the findings, supplemented by a round table discussion with leading manufacturers to get to the heart of the aspirations and frustrations of the sector.
Alex Turner, editor of TheBusinessDesk.com, said: “In the past industrial strategies have had mixed success. But the added uncertainty of Brexit makes it imperative that businesses, in the Midlands and throughout the UK, have the support of a well-funded plan to maximise trading opportunities.
“This project is designed to add to that discussion about how our manufacturing companies are feeling, what actions they plan to take in their own business, and want they want to see from Government and other stakeholders.”
Make your voice heard by completing our Manufacturing in the Midlands survey