EEF

To help boost the UK’s productivity performance, manufacturers are being urged to help and try and get manufacturing productivity growth back on trend by taking part in a major work programme being carried out by EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation which will feed into the Autumn Budget Statement.

  Since 2017, labour turnover in manufacturing has gone up as more workers ignored economic and political uncertainty, and instead took advantage of buoyant activity in the sector, to move onto pastures new according to the results of the latest annual Labour Turnover survey from EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation.

Do you think you have what it takes to be Britain’s best manufacturer? Well the search is on, and could be looking for you! EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, has launched the 2018 Future Manufacturing Awards, designed to find Britain’s unsung manufacturing heroes and most outstanding apprentices; and this year they are extra special as the awards celebrate their 10th anniversary.

As President Trump recently signed the Presidential Proclamation on steel and aluminium tariffs, Gareth Stace, UK Steel Director expressed his comments and concerns: “The UK steel sector has kept its fingers crossed for the last week, hoping that the official introduction of tariffs on steel would ultimately be more targeted and focussed. 

At this year’s EEF Manufacturing conference it is safe to say, the day did not disappoint. With a lot riding on the consequences to UK industry and companies with Brexit looming, the largest number of people to date attended the day to hear answers and truths about what the professionals and our Government think it will happen. With speeches from Liam Fox Secretary of State, and Leader of the opposition Jeremy Corbyn, there was a definite feel of excitement from the audience, and the general theme of ‘Global Britain: Change, Opportunity, Growth’ ran significantly throughout the day.

UK manufacturers from the 12th March will have the opportunity to become certified to the world’s first globally recognised health and safety standard with the opportunity to train their internal auditors via a new course being launched by EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation. The new standard will bring a number of new concepts such as leadership, continuous improvement and stakeholder management and for health and safety it presents an opportunity for businesses to be more strategic, including the requirement to look at the wider health and safety implications of the supply chain.

Stiff competition from across Europe was beaten off again by EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, as it was crowned Best National Association at the European Association Awards 2018, held in Brussels on 23rd February. EEF was also shortlisted for Best Use of Social Media. The awards are the premier event for membership organisations across Europe. Judged by top industry leaders, the awards recognise excellence and exceptional achievements by associations in serving and delivering value for their members.

This week brought us EEF, The Manufacturers’ Organisation’s conference followed by the Annual Dinner, and at the event speaker Chair Dame Judith Hackitt pressed the Government on the critical need for business to be closely involved in Brexit negotiations from now on - so negotiators properly understand the implications of their actions on Britain’s manufacturers as talks proceed.

Talented apprentices and dynamic manufacturers 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 Weir Minerals Europe, who scooped the Winner of Winners award – a title awarded to the most outstanding company amongst all the category winners.

The winners of this year’s EEF Manufacturing Photography Competition, sponsored by Liberty were announced at a high-profile event at the House of Commons in London on Tuesday 12th December by EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, and 63 shortlisted images were put on display. The competition, now in its 8th year, seeks creative images that capture the essence of modern manufacturing.

The manufacturers’ organisation, EEF, has announced that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will be a keynote political speaker at this year’s National Manufacturing Conference in London on 20th February 2018. The Opposition leader will set out his vision for industry and the economy and will address delegates and take questions about his plans for a future Labour Government.

A new survey has been published by EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, and Santander, that shows that manufacturers remain at the forefront of the UK’s business innovation efforts. 

Among many different worries and warning that Brexit has caused, warnings of more disappointing productivity growth is yet to come, as Britain’s manufacturers are urging the Chancellor to use his available ammunition to boost investment and improve industry competitiveness in the forthcoming Budget.

There are more than a quarter of a million skilled engineers which are needed each year to meet the demand from engineering and manufacturing companies, EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation can reveal. The 6th November marks the beginning of Tomorrow’s Engineers Week - a week dedicated to inspiring the UK’s next generation of engineers and encouraging young people into the profession to plug the skills gap in some of Britain’s biggest companies.

A specialist tailored health and safety service specially has been launched by EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, aimed at small manufacturing businesses to help their business become compliant and overcome the many obstacles they can face in understanding their responsibilities. The new service is in response to research from EEF and the Health and Safety Executive which shows that small businesses do want to manage health and safety effectively but they don’t have the time, knowledge, skills or financial resource.

EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation believe that Takeover Panel proposals must be part of wider framework to prevent loss of key assets, and have called for a new, independent Foreign Investment Evaluation (FIE) process as part of a wider framework to assess the potential benefits of foreign takeovers of UK companies.

A second podcast series designed to guide manufacturers through the challenges and benefits that the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) will bring, has been launched by EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, to help implement a practical series of continuous improvement programmes and cost saving initiatives across their business that achieve long-term success.

  According to facts and figures published by Santander and EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, British manufacturing continued its climb up the global rankings as growth returned last year. Launching the 2017 manufacturing fact card, the new data shows that Britain is now the eighth largest industrial nation with an annual output now worth $249bn, up from ninth place last year. 

All across the UK manufacturers will have greater access to a range of world class training as EEF, the manufacturers’ organisations expands its training venues further across the UK. As one of the UK’s leading training providers EEF already provides a range of training courses and consultancy for manufacturers in 12 venues across the UK.

Britain’s manufacturers are enjoying buoyant conditions on the back of export markets going from strength to strength according to a major survey published by EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation and accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP.  According to the EEF/BDO Q3 Manufacturing Outlook survey manufacturers have taken the continued political upheaval and uncertainty at home in their stride, taking advantage of the upswing in the Eurozone in particular, as well as the synchronised upswing in global trade.