Consumers ‘tuned out’ of Britiain’s great inventions

DESPITE being able to boast inventions including the telephone, TV, the jet engine and cash machines, a report out today warns that consumers are in the dark about Britain’s role in bringing life-changing products to the world.

According to Pioneering Great British Products, a report released by manufacturers’ organisation EEF and engineering group Siemens, this could hinder the country’s future ability to innovate.

By failing to celebrate the ‘brains’ behind Britain’s inventions, we are failing to provide our next generation with heroes – and leaving young people with little reason to want to follow in their footsteps, the report warns.

According to a poll of consumers, Britain’s best inventions are the telephone, TV and the jet engine. But despite these now being a common part of everyday life, four in ten (39%) are unaware that Alexander Graham Bell invented the phone, while little over half (54%) realise that British brains were behind the jet engine.

Even the TV, a fixture in nearly all homes, is only recognised by 57% as a British invention – by anotehr Scot John Logie Baird.

More worryingly, many seem to see British inventiveness as something in the past – almost seven in ten (69%) are aware that we invented the steam engine, while just over two in ten (22%) are aware we gave the world modern-day carbon fibre.

According to consumers, the main attribute of a ‘great invention’ is that it improves quality of life (66%). Almost six in ten say that a great invention radically changes everyday life (59%), makes life easier (57%) or solves a problem (57%). Many of the things we use on a daily basis tick these boxes.

However, familiarity doesn’t breed any greater recognition for its roots. Just a quarter of consumers are aware that ATM/cashpoint machines (25%) and the automatic kettle (23%) are also British ‘claims to fame’.
 
The report – due to be launched by Business Secretary Vince Cable at Liverpool’s Life Sciences University Technology College later today – marks the beginning of Manufacturing, Science and Technology Week, sponsored by EEF, at the International Festival for Business in Liverpool.

It looks at Britain’s strong heritage in bringing ground-breaking products to the world, while also unveiling five cutting-edge, British inventions: the AIRLANDER airship, Raspberry Pi, the SABRE engine (Synergetic Air Breathing Rocket Engine), Seafloor Production Tools and the i-limb bionic hand.

It warns that low awareness and recognition, the speed with which people now take new technology for granted and an apparent belief that Britain’s glory days of invention are in the past, could be significant factors contributing to the skills gap today and potentially hinder Britain’s future ability to innovate.

Vince Cable said: “This report serves as a very good reminder of the UK’s considerable strengths in manufacturing, and the current revival that we’re seeing in the sector is highly encouraging. The Government is working closely with manufacturing businesses to give them the confidence to invest, securing highly-skilled jobs, a stronger economy, and more world-shaping inventions in the future.”

Darrell Matthews, North West director at EEF, said: “Inventiveness and resourcefulness are written into our collective DNA. Unfortunately, our strengths appear to be flying under the radar and this could damage our ability to innovate in the future.

“If we want to Make it Britain then we have to wake up Britain to the innovation, creativity and design going on within our shores today. Our success didn’t end with the steam engine – it carries on from strength to strength with carbon fibre, bionic limbs and now the hypersonic engine too. We should be proud of what our inventiveness contributes to the world.

“If Britain is to continue to innovate then we need to start shouting about our achievements. We have to ensure that everyone is aware that success lies before us and not just in the past. Above all, we must give greater recognition to our inventors and innovators, so as to encourage more young people to want to learn the right skills to follow in their footsteps.”