Calls for a Minister of Manufacturing are nothing new. Those working in the manufacturing industry may be familiar with the work of Andrea Wilson, who began campaigning for a dedicated manufacturing representative in parliament back in 2020.
Her petition, which called for “an experienced and passionate voice for Industry within Government,” earned the 100,000 signatures required to have the topic debated in Parliament. However, this took place just before Parliament was dissolved, in light of July’s general election.
A single voice of authority for the manufacturing sector would provide a number of key benefits – and Wilson’s work indicates that there’s widespread demand for it. With the arrival of the Labour government, we take a look at why a Minister of Manufacturing is vital to the sector’s future, with insight from GTK, UK manufacturer of cable assemblies...
Supporting regional equality
One of the most important responsibilities of a dedicated Manufacturing Minister would be to support regional equality for manufacturers across the UK. As of 2023, the average regional share of manufacturing across the UK was 9.8%. However, in a number of historically overlooked regions, this figure is far higher. In Wales, manufacturing accounts for 17.3% of the economy, with other areas following close behind, including the East Midlands (16.4%) Yorkshire and the Humber (15.4%) and the North East (15%).
Regional inequality continues to plague the UK in a number of areas, with the Conservative party’s 2022 Levelling Up policy failing to address much of the disparity in these areas. The most recent Regional Manufacturing Outlook report by MakeUK reveals that London and the South East have experienced the largest percentage increase in investment.
It’s worth noting that Wales also performed well, experiencing the highest level of improvement (relative to last year) in output, orders, investment and employment. However, this can equally be attributed to a difficult showing in the prior year.
Paul Dearman, Head of Business Development at GTK, believes a longer view of regional manufacturing performance holds the key. “It’s not enough for the government to see one region struggle in a given year and then provide 12 months of support, before forgetting about that area in the following financial year. To really drive regional equality in manufacturing, the UK government needs longer-term strategies that are individualised to each part of the country.”
Driving the UK’s international position
As well as providing regional balance domestically, a dedicated voice for manufacturing would help support the UK’s position as a world leader in this area. A Manufacturing Minister would be able to support our domestic productivity and push for trade policies that support manufacturing exports.
A deeper understanding of the manufacturing industry would provide more expertise and focus to negotiations involving UK-made goods exports, potentially enabling us to negotiate tariff reductions and ensure favourable rules of origin.
In the post-Brexit era, this is particularly important – a singular Manufacturing Minister could help diversify our export markets, reducing the nation’s dependency on a limited number of trading partners and increasing the country’s economic resilience.
Streamlining current ministerial responsibilities
The current position responsible for overseeing Britain’s manufacturing sector is the Minister of State for Industry. Sarah Jones, MP for Croydon West, has held this position since the election of the Labour Party in July. Already, Jones has shown support for UK manufacturing in the House of Commons, with a particular focus on aerospace manufacturers in Northern Ireland and across the UK.
Jones’ early actions in the role bode well, but a singular focus and consistent support is required to drive long-term manufacturing growth. “UK manufacturers need clear guidance and consistent support,” says Paul. “The arrival of the latest Budget indicates a more long-term view of the manufacturing sector’s outlook, which we’re hopeful will provide greater support going forward.”
The role of Minister of State for Industry, which splits time between the Department for Business and Trade and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, covers a huge range of different areas, from advanced manufacturing to the reconstruction of Ukraine.
A refocusing of these departments to include a dedicated Minister for Manufacturing, whose responsibilities would be far less diffuse, would ensure that the Industrial Strategy is executed properly in the medium and long term.
Driving sustainability
In the same vein, a dedicated, experienced Manufacturing Minister would also be able to provide better guidance when it comes to the industry’s net zero goals.
Although a large number of manufacturers have identified the importance of sustainability to their operations, fewer have the means to actually reach net zero emissions. A September 2023 study found that, although 63% of manufacturing executives felt sustainability had an important place in their business, just 31% had a carbon reduction plan in place.
The struggles of UK businesses – and in particular SMEs – in this area is not limited to manufacturing. In fact, a May 2024 study by the British Standards Institute found that nine in 10 UK businesses were calling for greater government support for decarbonisation.
However, the issue of sustainability in manufacturing is so much more pressing due to the sector’s carbon-intensity. UK manufacturing was the third-largest contributor to UK greenhouse gas emissions in 2022 (the most recent year on record).
Paul says: “We need a singular source of knowledge for net zero – the previous government’s advice told us that decarbonisation was required, but fell well short of providing the nuanced information needed to achieve those goals. A Minister of Manufacturing could help condense these aims and help the industry meet the required targets.”
Future-proofing the sector
It’s evident that Britain’s manufacturing sector could be one of the country’s greatest assets, but current and looming shortcomings must be addressed in order to protect the industry.
Research from The Manufacturer found that three in five young people are unlikely to consider a career in manufacturing, indicating that clearer routes into the industry are a must to ensure its long-term vitality.
And, with 66% of manufacturers reporting difficulty finding specialised workers, the onus lies with the government to promote and facilitate routes into the world of manufacturing, providing an emphasis on skilled work.
Visibility is vital here – a single figurehead responsible for condensing and extolling the values of a vocational career would be invaluable to legitimise routes into the industry for the UK’s youth. A Minister for Manufacturing would serve as a crucial advocate for the industry and could represent its interests, both within the government and in international spaces and forums.
Wilson’s petition indicates that there is widespread support for the addition of a new voice, a new representative for manufacturing in Parliament. Her campaigning also indicates that the title ‘Minister’ is proving an early stumbling block to progress, but we must avoid falling into the trap of semantics.
Whether the new role includes the title of Minister or not is unimportant. What is important, however, is the addition of a singular voice for the manufacturing sector, to support our push for net zero, establish regional equality and solidify Britain’s position as a global leader in manufacturing.
