However, the UK is still the world’s sixth largest producer and manufacturing is still the third-biggest sector in the UK, contributing £140bn to the economy in 2009. The UK makes more from manufacturing than financial services and since the end of the last recession, growth in manufacturing has been three times that of the rest of the economy. In fact, last year UK manufacturing generated £130bn in gross added value.
Campaign trail In the current economic climate, anything that can enhance the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) must be encouraged. The Make it in Great Britain campaign is run by BIS and aims to challenge outdated opinions of the UK manufacturing industry and dispel the myth that Britain ‘doesn’t make anything anymore’. One of the campaign’s objectives is to educate the public to buy from the UK wherever they can, helping our economy to grow and use manufacturing to help drive us out of the recession. This isn’t the first movement of its kind and perhaps the most famous was the ‘I’m Backing Britain’ campaign in the late 1960s. It began in December 1967 when five secretaries from a heating and ventilation company volunteered to work
Super Rod
Super Rod produces a market-leading range of cable routing products and accessories, and its Cable Rod range was voted Best Product of the Last 50 Years in one industry survey.
In 2011, the business was forced to review its commitment to the UK when it had to move from its original facility in South Wales. Ultimately, the decision was made to invest in a new facility in South Wales, retaining its skills and staff, and reinforcing its commitment to growing its business from the
UK.Three main factors considered were:
n Customer service. While others are cutting back on the inventory they hold, both distributors and their customers still want a stable supply route. This was seen as especially important in these unpredictable times.
n Getting innovations to market. Super Rod has always prided itself on being open to ideas and working with contractors in its local market. The company’s in-house design and manufacturing set up has allowed it to go from idea to available product within a very short time period. To keep ahead of the competition, this was seen as another discipline it needed to keep in the business.
n In-house skill base. The company has built up a team with great industry knowledge and a passion for what it does. Malcolm Duncan, Super Rod’s managing director, says: ‘We took the above key factors into account and made the decision to strengthen our position in the UK. Since then, the company has seen a 25 per cent increase in sales, and been awarded a second Queen’s Award for Enterprise – this time for export.’
Marco Cable Management is continuing to evolve by using more advanced and high- tech methods of manufacturing, competing head-on with the manufacturing powers in the Far East.
By manufacturing in the UK and supplying to a UK market, the company is creating much-needed jobs. It also believes that UK suppliers are able to deliver in line with demand, rather than wait for the product to hit dry land following six weeks at sea. Quality is key, even in this time of austerity – perhaps even more so when customers expect to see value for money at every stage of the procurement process. Marco Cable Management is of the opinion that sourcing from within the UK goes a long way to prevent the purchase of counterfeit and faulty goods or products. There are also massive environmental benefits. Brian Pigott, Marco Cable Management’s general manager, explains: ‘Sustainability is a term that truly applies to UK manufacturing and buying in-land. Not only are we controlling our carbon footprint, we are also supporting our communities through employment and economic growth. We are proud to be part of UK plc and we must continue to wave the flag for our glorious manufacturing sector!’
an extra half hour each day without pay to do their bit for the flagging economy. It took on a life of its own and within the week, other companies were following suit.
Sustainability is a term that truly applies to UK manufacturing and buying in-land
Not what it seems The truth is that we have some of the most efficient manufacturers in the world, who are able to out-compete cheap overseas labour by making high-end products and inventing new, more efficient manufacturing techniques. Some companies that have moved production overseas have been taught a harsh lesson. The initial samples that they received, and initial production runs, may have been OK, but quality suffered when less-experienced operators were moved onto the work. Then there’s the issue of reliability, with deliveries often spending weeks at sea. Nowadays electrical products and systems are manufactured all over the globe. There are, however, many companies in the electrical sector that are committed to manufacturing their products in the UK. They believe that doing so benefits the company, its employees, the local area, the UK as a whole, and perhaps most importantly, the customer. Here we take a look at a selection of those companies and the reasons they are still flying the flag for UK manufacturing.
Marco Cable Management
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ECA Today September 2012
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