Contrary to popular belief, the UK’s manufacturing sector is still thriving in many ways. With an annual output of £192 billion, the UK remains the ninth largest manufacturing nation in the world. Manufacturing is also expected to be integral to the UK’s post-pandemic economic recovery, after the sector experienced its strongest month in six years in August 2020, during the height of the pandemic.
However, with the global landscape of the industry changing rapidly and a clear need to invest in UK manufacturing in light of political uncertainty, this report hones in on how the industry can futureproof itself and includes the opinions of the industry’s skilled workers, particularly in the metalworking sector.
To form the research, we asked 100 UK metalworking experts in the automotive, general fabrication, machinery manufacturing, offshore/shipbuilding, rail, steel production and sheet metal industries to provide honest insight into everything from the skills shortage, plus efficiency and reliability, to innovation and transformation. The respondents also included, welders, production managers, product managers, operations managers, workshop managers/fabrication managers, fabrication operatives, HSE managers/officers, welding supervisors/managers and workshop supervisors/foremen, ensuring the findings are balanced and provide a true reflection of all levels of the sector.
We hope you find the insights and key takeaways helpful.