A Staffordshire business leader has reacted to the Government’s new Industrial Strategy saying he would have liked to have seen ‘bolder plans’ announced.
Tony Hague, CEO of Cheslyn-Hay-based PP Control & Automation has spoken out after the Government revealed its new Industrial Strategy on Monday.
Daily Focus has already reported that Stoke-on-Trent’s ceramics industry felt neglected after there was no mention of including the ceramics industry in the British Industry Supercharger initiative, which subsidises 60 per cent of energy costs for hundreds of companies, a figure which will rise to 90 per cent in 2026/27.
Stoke-on-Trent Central MP Gareth Snell slammed the lack of support but has said work will continue to secure support for the city and the ceramics sector.
The Industrial Strategy is a 10-year plan to increase business investment and grow the industries of the future in the UK.
Eight sectors have been identified as having the highest potential for economic growth and will receive the bulk of government industrial support. They are advanced manufacturing, clean energy industries, creative industries, defence, digital and technologies, financial services, life sciences and professional and business services.
Proposals include driving innovation through an investment into UK R&D, new funding for the British Business Bank to support SMEs, speeding up time it can take to connect new business properties to the energy grid and an increased spending on improving UK workers’ skills.
Tony, whose business is one of the UK’s leading strategic manufacturing outsourcing specialists, said: “We’ve waited decades for it and, finally, the government’s Industrial Strategy has been published.
“At first glance, there doesn’t appear to be anything new, exciting or ‘immediate’ in there, with the majority of the much-publicised energy savings not actually coming into play for two years – and only after more consultation.
“I would have liked to have seen more bolder plans and the reintroduction of the Manufacturing Advisory Service or something similar, which delivered lots and lots of targeted support to SMEs that made an instant and long-term impact.
“But let’s look at the positives. I suppose it’s a start and the fact it is a ten-year plan gives a bit of added certainty to our sector, unless Labour’s tenure in Whitehall is short lived and this strategy is ripped up in the spirit of political posturing!
“It is good to see Advanced Manufacturing as one of its core sector plans and, finally, it looks like we’ve woken up to the importance of investing in automation and robotics. This new technology makes us quicker, makes us smarter and doesn’t replace jobs – if anything it has the opposite impact.
“I desperately want to believe that the Government has finally understood what is required to help make UK manufacturing truly competitive again. We’re not after handouts, just a level playing field so we can take on the rest of the world by playing to our strengths. Time will tell.”
