March 2019

News Manufacturing Technology Centre chief executive Dr Clive Hickman is spearheading a drive to establish a technology partnership with India. The far-reaching link-up aims to increase trade, investment, technology and skills transfers between the UK and the sub-continent. The initiative follows the launch of the UK- India Technology Partnership by Prime Minister Theresa May and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year. A major leadership summit - the India-UK FutureTech Festival - was held in New Delhi in December, bringing together manufacturing, engineering and technology chief executives and senior leaders as well as scientists, academics, investors and researchers, to explore collaboration between the two nations. Dr Hickman who, before he joined the MTC, was head of engineering for Tata Motors in India, attended the event and met several key people including Prof Vijay Raghavan, the principal scientific advisor to the Indian government. Potential collaborations discussed included connecting Indian and UK manufacturers and supply chains to bring economic benefits to both countries, sharing new digital manufacturing technologies and developing these with India’s world-class IT sector, giving UK companies access to India’s markets and production capabilities, sharing engineering expertise and developing and investing in joint research and development projects. Dr Hickman said the potential opportunities were enormous, with the UK and India being among the world’s top manufacturing nations with a combined manufacturing output of around £750 billion: “The UK expertise in advanced manufacturing and its well- developed innovation programmes alongside the scale and ambitions of India’s manufacturing sector present an opportunity for both countries. Greater collaboration – from joint research and development and the creation of new technologies to increased trade and investment – can deliver growth and increased productivity in the UK and India.” He added: “The growth potential and appetite in India for advanced manufacturing innovation and solutions is high in sectors such as automotive, aerospace, defence and pharmaceuticals. The UK’s expertise in advanced manufacturing and its innovation infrastructure can help to deliver the growth and productivity aspirations of both countries.” As a next step both countries are examining the possibility of establishing Catapult-type centres like the MTC in India, bringing industry together with academia. 0 8 | Plant & Works Engineering www.pwemag.co.uk March 2019 The head of Britain’s manufacturers has warned the Government that leaving the EU with no deal would be catastrophic for the sector and that the prospect of applying zero tariffs on imported goods as a consequence would kill off some sectors of industry overnight. The warning was given to the Chancellor of the Exchequer by Dame Judith Hackitt DBE at the annual manufacturing dinner of Make UK, the manufacturers’ organisation, the leading body for the sector. The dinner follows on from the Make UK National Manufacturing Conference, which highlighted the change of name from EEF after over 120 years, to Make UK, a change designed to reflect the extensive and dynamic nature of modern manufacturing. It comes on the back of a major survey carried out for Make UK by YouGov which shows that 49% of companies believe leaving the EU with ‘no deal’ would make the UK a less attractive location for manufacturing. By contrast just over a quarter (28%) believe it would make the UK more attractive. When analysed by business size, the difference is far starker amongst large businesses with almost three in five (58%) viewing the UK as unattractive in the event of no deal, compared with 48% of medium sized firms and 43% of small firms. Furthermore, just 9% of companies say they have won business previously sourced overseas since the referendum, highlighting the fact leaving the EU does not appear to be improving prospects for companies. In her speech, Dame Judith, Chair of Make UK, commented: “I am saddened by the way that some of our politicians have put selfish political ideology ahead of the national interest and people’s livelihoods and left us facing the catastrophic prospect of leaving the EU next month with no deal… The clock has almost run down and it is now essential that the pantomime in Parliament ends and politicians of all persuasion come together to agree a deal that protects the future of manufacturing and people’s jobs right across the UK. “Let me be clear for the press and for those hard brexiteers who accuse us of scaremongering. This is very real and very serious. The ninth largest manufacturing economy in the world needs to be assured that our contribution to UK prosperity is recognised and valued. The survey also shows that since the referendum in 2016 companies have already taken significant including offshoring production. Of those who have done so, almost two thirds (61%) have switched production elsewhere in the EU. By contrast just one fifth of companies (19%) have switched production back to the UK. Looking ahead to a post Brexit economic environment 53% of companies believe a lower tax burden would help encourage manufacturing activity in the UK, followed by 52% of companies who say a Government commitment to keep energy costs at or below the EU average would do so. Companies were also asked what they consider to be ‘great’ about manufacturing in Britain. The two elements that stand out as the Britain’s key selling points are the branding and reputation of UK made goods (61%) and skills in the workforce (54%). The UK’s membership of the EU was also highlighted by a sizeable proportion of manufacturers. Two in five (39%) consider the ease of moving goods in and out of the country a ‘great’ thing about Britain, and the same proportion regard being part of the EU market as a ‘great’ thing about Britain. The survey of 429 companies was carried out between 28th January and 5th February. Industry chief warns of ‘no deal’ consequences for manufacturing MTC chief executive spearheads drive to establish technology partnership with India