Since BMFQ was launched seven years ago to promote British manufacturing as essential to the future growth and stability of the United Kingdom, we have grown used to being called all sorts of names. These have included dinosaurs and Neanderthals, and we even been accused of being out of touch with reality with unrealistic ambitions!
In the hundreds of media interviews we've given BMFQ spokesmen were castigated by financial experts, bank representatives, financial journalists and interviewers as being totally out of step with the modern Global economy. One even suggested that we were trying to push things back to the old “Corn Laws”. Manufacturing was now old hat and should all be undertaken by developing countries where production costs are much lower. Britain should just concentrate on high value jobs as found in the financial markets, and that is where the future lay.
What a difference a couple of years makes. Now the government is desperate to increase manufacturing once again. All the issues we raised at the time, such as having a balanced economy and that manufacturing is the component on which the rest of the economy stand are now seen as absolutely essential to the prosperity of the country.
We have long argued that if you look at the example of the largest exporter in the world, which is Germany not China as many seem to think, they are successful not just in the top end products such as BMW and Porsche but also in producing every day basic products such as knives, and even flower pots!
The recent report by EEF which details that one in seven British companies have moved their manufacturing operations back to the UK from abroad again confirms all the issues we have repeatedly raised. These companies originally moved to taker advantage of the low-cost emerging markets, both as marketing opportunities and also as a means of reducing costs.
The EEF survey of 300 manufacturers reports that they have moved back to the UK for the following reasons:
1) Cost savings failing to meet expectations
2) Poor quality of goods produced
3) Slowness in getting products to market
Other key issues include the carbon footprint created by unnecessarily sending goods halfway around the world. Never mind the young unemployed who could be usefully employed in factories and the balance of trade issue which needs addressing.
Now is an excellent time for politicians from all parties to get behind British manufacturing to help drive a new generation of entrepreneurs into producing British made products for both the home end export markets.
There is a wonderful opportunity for a renaissance of production in the UK. Not just for high value products which always seem to be the ones favoured but even for everyday products where we can still be successful.
It requires the support of the government but the long term results could be enormously beneficial for the country and help to get the massive government debt reduced.
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