‘Promoting the South West as a world-class hub for manufacturing’
Regional business leaders are setting out their position with the aim of ensuring the south west becomes a ‘powerhouse for UK manufacturing, and a magnet for global trade, investment, innovation, and industrial talent.’
They say the region is making a bold pitch to lead the next chapter of UK manufacturing. It follows the recent unveiling of the Manufacturing Investment Plan by The Great South West Partnership.
Its’ launch was backed by Make UK, a renewed South West Manufacturers’ Network and the rollout of the Made Smarter programme across the region.
‘Manufacturing in the Great South West is a national asset,’ explains Karl Tucker, Chair of the Great South West Partnership and Yeo Valley.
‘Our world-class capabilities in aerospace, marine, defence, clean energy, agritech and advanced engineering are already helping to secure the UK’s economic resilience and national security.’
‘As global supply chains shift and investment in sovereign capabilities grows, the South West is uniquely positioned to lead. If you want to be part of the UK’s manufacturing future, this is where it starts.’
The region already has the second largest advanced manufacturing capability in the UK and is critical to the delivery of the Government’s industrial strategy.
Helped create ‘many high-skill, high-value jobs’
‘The South West makes a major contribution to the success of manufacturing in the UK, with a breadth of industrial sectors ranging from marine, through renewables to aerospace,’ says Kerri-Anne Mruk, South Regional Director of Make UK.
‘The collaboration that has taken place across the region through the network over the last decade has made a difference to the economy and helped create many high-skill, high-value jobs.’
‘As the government publishes its Industrial Strategy with a long-term vision for modern, advanced manufacturing, the importance of the sector to the South West economy is only going to grow.’
‘In this context, Make UK, as a national voice for manufacturers, reaffirms its continued commitment to strengthen collaboration and support the South West Manufacturers’ Network, working together on shared priorities vital to the region’s continued success.’
The Government’s new Industrial Strategy identifies the South West as one of the UK’s leading areas for advanced manufacturing, with specific strengths in clean energy, defence, agri-tech, batteries, and maritime autonomy.
Experts can show the region’s positive economic output by calculating the difference between the value of services minus the cost of its production. This is known as Gross Value Added – or GVA.
The region contributes £7.4 billion in GVA, and invests £780 million annually in research and development in this area. It also already employs more than 120,000 people in manufacturing.
The south-west is also home to sector-leading primes such as Leonardo, Babcock, and Sunseeker with ‘innovation assets’ in the spheres of aerospace, marine, defence, photonics, green energy and agri-tech.
Image: servickuz / Shutterstock
Providing the ‘ideal platform’
The Manufacturing Investment Plan is focusing on promoting the region in national and global markets. It aims to strengthen networks, address workforce challenges and support business growth and investment.
It builds on evidence from the 2024 High Value Manufacturing Report and the ground-breaking Great South West Independent Economic Review.
These publications identified clear economic potential and opportunities for the region with aims that included securing the UK’s food, energy and defence future.
Coinciding with the Plan’s launch, the South West Manufacturers’ Network (SWMN) is refreshing its 10-year-old Memorandum of Understanding. This move reaffirms the region’s commitment to work collaboratively on shared priorities.
Founded in 2014, the network brings together key non-profit manufacturing groups from across the region. Make UK provides further regional and national representation.
‘Cornwall Manufacturers Group are delighted to reaffirm our commitment to SWMN. It is vital that all manufacturing sector groups speak together, and SWMN gives us that strong and unified voice,’ says Eric Nicholls, CEO of Cornwall Manufacturers Group
‘We look forward to working with GSW to spread the message that the South West is a fantastic base for manufacturing and to grow it for the benefit of the wider economy.’
‘The Torbay Hi Tech Cluster is delighted to once again support and commit to the SWMN, and represent manufacturing and technology companies in Torbay and across the wider South West,’ says Chris Wardle, Chair of Torbay Hi-Tech Cluster.
‘It is imperative that the wider region is strongly represented, has a unified voice and will deliver on the government’s science, innovation, technology and industrial strategies.’
‘We very much look forward to working with GSW on growing the South West economies.’
‘A strong, unified voice’
‘Plymouth Manufacturers’ Group is proud to confirm our continued commitment to the SWMN,’ says Lee Crocker, Chair of Plymouth Manufacturers’ Group (PMG).
‘A strong, unified voice across the region’s manufacturing sector is essential, and SWMN provides the ideal platform to achieve this as together we represent such a high number of manufacturing employers.’
‘By working closely with the Great South West, we can ensure that our region takes a leading role in advancing growth-focused, sustainable strategies and promoting the South West as a world-class hub for manufacturing for investment and incredible career opportunities.’
In a separate development, the ‘Made Smarter Great South West’ programme was recently launched. It’s a government-backed initiative to help small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to ‘embrace digital technologies and boost productivity.’
The programme is being delivered by the (National Composites Centre), South West Manufacturing Advisory Service (SWMAS), and the University of the West of England (UWE).
The programme contains a variety of offers, including up to 50% match funding for digital tech adoption which’ll allow companies to use the latest tools and equipment in the running of their business.
‘We’re delighted that SMEs across the Great South West region can now take advantage of the Made Smarter programme to accelerate their digital transformation journeys,’ says Katy Riddington, Chief Portfolio Officer at NCC.
‘NCC has helped hundreds of SMEs de-risk and scale new technologies for faster market adoption, greater efficiency, and competitive advantage.’
‘Staying competitive, sustainable, and future-ready’
‘As a lead delivery partner for Made Smarter, we look forward to working with our partners SWMAS and UWE to demonstrate how digital technologies can help businesses stay competitive, sustainable, and future-ready.’
‘SWMAS is delighted to be working with NCC to deliver Made Smarter across the Great South West,’ says Nick Golding, Managing Director at SWMAS.
‘The programme offers a fantastic opportunity for SME manufacturers to understand and progress their digital journey, adopt new technologies and develop the leadership and skills needed to embrace change.’
Breaktime News recently reported on the launch of The Great South West Partnership’s Investment Prospectus.
