News 08 | Plant & Works Engineering www.pwemag.co.uk August/September 2023 Every year Make UK publishes an analysis of official data which looks at the contribution of manufacturing to each English region and the devolved nations. The analysis looks at metrics such as employment, sectoral composition, output and export destinations of each region’s goods. This year there were two striking factors. Firstly, in 2022 compared to 2021 the number of jobs in manufacturing has grown in six of eight English regions along with Wales and Northern Ireland. This is very unusual given employment levels have been stable, or in slight decline, for some time and counter the long-held narrative of inevitable decline in manufacturing employment. They also show, as is happening in the US, that growing manufacturing jobs and the sector’s share of the economy is a realistic prospect given a supportive policy framework. Yorkshire & Humber saw the biggest growth in manufacturing jobs, adding 46,000 jobs in 2022 compared to 2021, bringing the total number to 316,000, more than one in ten (11%) of the region’s workforce. The South West saw the second highest increase, closely followed by the East of England. The East and West Midlands, together with London and the South East, Wales and Northern Ireland also saw increases in the number of manufacturing jobs. The report also highlights the importance of manufacturing and jobs to so-called ‘red wall’ areas where the sector occupies a substantially higher than average contribution to the regional economy. The average regional share of manufacturing nationally in the UK (2) is just under 10% (9.8%), whereas in Wales the sector accounts for almost a fifth of the economy (17.3%), whilst it is also substantially above the average as a share of the economy in the East Midlands (16.4%), Yorkshire & Humber (15.4%), North East (15%), West Midlands (14.4%) and the North West (14%). The second striking factor was how most English regions and Wales are seeing a downward trend in their share of exports going to the EU, suggesting a possible shift in trade patterns. While the overall share of UK goods exports going to the EU increased in 2022 from 2021 (52% compared to 50%) this was largely boosted by substantial increases in the share of exports going to the EU from both Scotland Northern Ireland. Without these increases it’s likely that the UK’s overall share would also have fallen significantly. There may be a number of factors at play to explain this shift but if the trend continues then there are implications for Government policies to support exporters with a shit in emphasis needed to support companies exploring markets outside the EU. By MAKE UK chief executive, Stephen Phipson MAKE uk - the manufacturers’ organisation monthly news comment PPMA Show set to showcase latest developments in the UK’s processing and packaging industry The processing and packaging machinery exhibition, PPMA, will once again take place at the NEC Birmingham, between 26-28 September. This is a complete production line event with something for everyone involved in processing and packaging machinery, robotics and industrial vision systems. The show will be a representation of this fast-growing industry, featuring food, beverage, pharmaceuticals, household products and toiletries, building materials and supplies, pet care, micro-brewery and distilleries, FMCG, as well as contract packers and more. Visitors will be able to take advantage of the networking opportunities, live demonstrations, source new ideas and solutions, and meet with potential new suppliers and technical experts. Richard Little, the PPMA Show Director commented: “Between the 350+ companies exhibiting there are thousands of years of experience in packaging, processing and automation machinery. Visitors are encouraged to bring their problems and requirements to the show. There will be people in the show who know what to do and there will be plenty of machines to look at actually doing it.” The best and brightest businesses of this industry will be eager to demonstrate to visitors how they can improve their businesses with the latest and greatest technologies. Some of the companies exhibiting include Advanced Conveyor Group, BrilloPak, Clearview Imaging, Excel Packing Machinery, IDEM SAFETY Switches, Lafert Electric Motors, Mil-Tek UK Recycling & Waste Solutions, Premier Labellers, and Westrock Packaging Machinery & Automation. This is a rapidly growing industry with immense potential with exciting new products and technologies are being developed all the time; an industry that is constantly innovating and evolving. For more information: https://www.ppmashow.co.uk/visit and their representative bodies. Our ambitions and those of Nineteen Group align in that we wish to ensure that responsible engineering principles are being embedded at every level and that decisions made balance the needs of all people with the limits of our planet.” Peter Jones, CEO of Nineteen Group commented on the success of the event: “We gave our team the licence to disrupt the accepted norms of what an industrial sector trade show looked like, felt like and achieved and they have over-performed by every measure. From the Nexa3D guitar players’ competition to the festival-like stilt walkers and branding to the sheer sense of excitement generated on the exhibition floor it’s been superb, and it will only get better next year as we add Drives & Controls, Air-Tech and Fluid Power & Systems into the mix.” Dates for the live events for M&E Week in 2024 have been confirmed as 5-6 June for Smart Factory Expo, Design & Engineering Expo and Maintec (2 days, Hall 4) and 4-6 June for Drives & Controls, Air-Tech and Fluid Power & Systems (3 Days, Hall 5). For more information visit: www.mandeweek.co.uk
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