EEF

A third of UK manufacturers expect some low skilled jobs to be lost over the next five years as a result of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital technologies. But over half of companies (54%) say they will up-skill these lower skilled workers to take the jobs that this innovation creates. More than two thirds of manufacturers plan to spend some of their training budget over the next 12 months on technical engineering skills.

Make UK, the manufacturers’ organisation is on a mission to help industry leaders achieve even greater success by launching a new programme that takes a fresh approach to developing leadership talent. Their Building your brand of leadership programme combines the worlds of branding and image consulting with the fields of leadership coaching and the latest in neuroscience. It helps leaders build upon their own personal style of leadership,  so that they can quickly achieve their leadership goals. 

The UK electronics sector experienced the fastest growth of any manufacturing sector in 2018, according to a new report by Santander and Make UK, the manufacturers’ organisation. Despite representing less than 5% of UK manufacturing output, the sector generated £19.4bn in turnover and £8.4bn in gross value added (GVA) in 2017. After a period of decline that started in the early 2000s, the sector experienced a major rebound in growth in 2017 and 2018: up 4.4% and 12.4% respectively.

As National Apprenticeship Week kicks off, Make UK (formerly EEF) is calling on the manufacturing industry to promote apprenticeships as the perfect pathway to a fulfilling career. As the Government launches its new Fire it Up campaign, now is the perfect time for manufacturing employers to sell their apprenticeships to the next generation.

New published data on UK Government procurement of steel shows that £158m was procured by UK Government during 2017/18, of which it is confirmed that 43% (£68m) was produced in the UK. Commenting on the publication, UK Steel Director General, Gareth Stace, said: “UK Government is the single biggest purchaser of steel, buying over three million tonnes of steel between now and the mid 2020’s. This tremendous purchasing power equips the Government with a hugely influential policy tool to deliver against a number of its objectives, including support of UK manufacturing sitting at the heart of the Industrial Strategy.”

What another year for the EEF, manufacturers organisation conference, or should I say MAKE UK as one of the many things that came out of a busy and interesting day was the rebranding of the organisation. Stephen Phipson, CEO and Chair of MAKE UK started the day off by reminding the UK manufacturing industry that we have been at the heart of manufacturing through the good and the bad times.

Following the launch of a £20m North West pilot before Christmas, the manufacturers’ organisation Make UK (formerly EEF) called on the Chancellor Philip Hammond MP to increase investment in the Made Smarter business support programme and roll it out nationally as early as this year. In a speech Dame Judith Hackitt CBE, Chair of Make UK, also warned that such initiatives were at risk from being clouded out by Brexit, and that in order to compete globally the government needs to put ‘rocket boosters’ on to the Made Smarter scheme.

Leading manufacturers and talented apprentices from across the UK were recognised as national manufacturing champions at the EEF Future Manufacturing Awards held in London last week. The biggest winner on the night was Paxman, winning the Manufacturer of the Year award, a title awarded to the most outstanding company amongst all the category winners.

Britain’s manufacturers are urging Universities to cast their net much wider to include vocational learners rather than prioritising academic pupils, on the back of new survey evidence showing companies are giving greater priority to investing in Apprenticeship programmes than recruiting Graduates. The survey, published today by EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation shows a clear shift in this direction by employers looking to ensure they have the specialist skills they will need in the future.

Charlotte Horobin, EEF’s Region Director for the Midlands and East won the prestigious Emerging Leader award at the Forward Ladies National Awards and Summit 2018, sponsored by HSBC UK in Leeds on the 7th December. The National Awards were introduced nine years ago to acknowledge and promote the fact that women are increasingly an integral and invaluable part of every business across the UK. This year, Forward Ladies continues to recognise and honour the most respected businesswomen, across a wide range of business categories.

In partnership with the Careers Enterprise Company, EEF has launched a new guide showing Britain’s manufacturers how to engage with schools effectively to boost the number of talented young people entering the sector as a career. Some of the UK’s largest companies are also helping schools improve their careers advice provision, working with teachers to show young people all that is on offer in the world of work. 

New research published today by EEF,The Manufacturers’ Organisation, shows that one is six manufacturers business decision makers say business would become untenable for them if the UK reverted to WTO tariffs, increased border checks on people and increased checks on goods at the border.

  EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation will launch a new, innovative game-based learning tool at the forthcoming IOSH conference which will provide employers and employees with an interactive tool to promote health and safety in the workplace.

A new training course to re-train and up-skill employees covering the knowledge and practical skills involved with robotic and automation engineering has been launched by EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation. This will make EEF one of the very few providers able to offer the training which will lead to the EAL Level 3 Certificate in Robotics and Automation.

In this article, UK Steel’s Head of Policy, Richard Warren, releases his response to the publication of the 'no-deal' Brexit technical notes, explaining how a no-deal Brexit may effect the UK steel industry. Commenting on the publication of the first series of ‘no-deal’ technical notice, Warren said:

  UK manufacturing makes a contribution to the UK economy which goes way beyond just the sum of its sub-sector parts, according to an annual snapshot of the sector published by EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation and Santander.

  The manufacturers’ organisation, EEF, has warned that nearly half of the UK’s manufacturers remain concerned about their ability to access skills post-Brexit, according to a report launched in May.

Do you reckon you could capture the dynamism of modern British industry? Well photographers of all experience levels are being asked to try as the 9th annual EEF Manufacturing Photography Competition opens for entries. This year the competition - in partnership with the GREAT Campaign - is asking photographers to capture the bright future of British Manufacturing and champion the next generation of talent and technology in the sector. Photographs can portray any stage of manufacturing - from design, process and technology in action through to the finished product – and feature individuals at work.

EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation has strengthened the partnership agreement with its American counterpart as part of its focus on boosting cross-Atlantic trade. The talks with the National Association for Manufacturers (NAM) were part of a wider visit to Washington DC by EEF CEO, Stephen Phipson, who held talks on trade with a number of senior figures in the US Capitol including Trade Adviser to Paul Ryan, Speaker to the US Congress.

It has officially been a year since Article 50 has been triggered, and to fit in EEF, The Manufacturers’ Organisation hosted the Making Brexit Work – Preparing Manufacturers for Brexit conference in Newcastle on 28th March. The event brought together around 60 North East business and manufacturing leaders to identify key concerns and opportunities presented by Brexit.