Cable and Clegg boost manufacturing image

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The Government is holding a manufacturing summit in an attempt to promote belief in what many see as a struggling industry.

Although the latest figures show manufacturing is at a 16-year high in the UK, with technology bringing in the biggest contribution, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Business Secretary Vince Cable are worried about an “outdated image” surrounding the sector.

“I want our young people to see that British manufacturing offers well paid and rewarding careers,” said Clegg.

Cable claimed he had seen survey results where 49 per cent of seven to 11 year olds thought being an engineer would be “boring” and he wanted to “dispel the myth” through a week of open days in factories around the UK, allowing both students and teachers to see the interesting side of manufacturing.

“Government and industry agree that we have to improve the image of manufacturing if we are to attract the brightest and best into industry,” he said.

Clegg added: “Throwing open the doors of our factories to the engineers of tomorrow will show them the satisfaction of making things is hard to beat.”

During a press conference attended by IT PRO this afternoon, Cable admitted there were areas other than technology that needed to be built up but added: “It is where we do our best in international trade so of course there will be a [focus] on that.”

The Government also announced new investments in the form of a National Skills Academy for Composites and Biotechnology. It will receive £1.98 million in funding over the next three years, set to be matched by employers, and aimed to “develop new professional standards and training programmes that meet the fast evolving skills needs of these hi-tech industries.”

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