10 News


Manufacturing growth is the strongest in almost 20 years


GROWTH IN the UK’s manufacturing sector was the strongest for 18 years according to the latest CBI Industrial Trends Survey.


Both the size of total order books and the pace of output growth over the past three months were the highest recorded since 1995, showing the recovery in UK manufacturing is accelerating. The survey of nearly 350 manufacturers found that total order books relative to normal levels were their strongest since March 1995.


Export order books were also very firmly above average. Output volumes over the three months to November rose at their fastest rate since January 1995, with all but one sector (electrical engineering) reporting growth. Manufacturers expect output growth to continue at a robust pace over the coming three months.


Stephen Gifford, CBI director of economics, said: “This new evidence shows encouraging signs of a broadening and deepening recovery in the manufacturing sector. Manufacturers finally seem to be feeling the benefit of growing confidence and spending within the UK and globally.


“Both order books and the pace of output growth are the strongest


they’ve been since 1995, and firms are expecting similar-paced growth over the coming three months as well. But challenges remain. UK exporters need government support to break into high- growth export markets to reduce their vulnerability to any further Eurozone flare-ups.” Key findings:


■ 36% of firms reported that total order books were above normal in November and 25% said they were below, giving a balance of +11%, the highest balance since March 1995 (+11%)


■ 28% reported that export order books were above normal in November and 27% that they were below, giving a balance of +1%, well above the long-run average of -20%


■ The volume of output in the three months to November rose at its fastest rate since January 1995 (+29% balance)


■ Firms expect output growth to continue at a similar pace in the next three months: 44% expect to raise output and 20% expect to reduce output, giving a balance of +24%


■ Stock adequacy of finished goods was below average (+7%) for the third consecutive month, while expected price growth rose from October’s fifteen-month low to +5%.


Real Alternatives from the IoR


The Institute of Refrigeration has revealed its role in a new European learning programme – ‘REAL Alternatives’ – that will address skills shortages amongst technicians working in the refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump sector.


The focus will be on carbon dioxide, ammonia, hydrocarbon and HFO refrigerants. It will improve knowledge in the service and maintenance of these refrigerants in new systems from the point of view of safety, efficiency, reliability and containment. Delivered through


innovative blended learning – a mix of e-learning, face-to-face training


materials, practical exercises, assessments and an e-library of learning resources – the programme will bring together industry knowledge and expertise from across Europe.


REAL Alternatives will also build on the established REAL Skills Europe & REAL Zero containment approaches.


This two year project will be led by a consortium of six partners from across


Europe and is funded by the EU Lifelong Learning Programme. The consortium includes training and professional institutes as well as employer representative bodies.


All partners in the REAL Alternatives consortium will contribute to each aspect of the programme with key areas of responsibility such as clarifying alternative refrigerant training needs and opportunities in Europe; developing a specification for the e-learning; piloting and testing of materials with live audiences; monitoring the impact of the project and evaluating success; publicity, promotion, and stakeholder engagement; project management; and identifying opportunities for long term sustainability of outputs.


A programme website will be launched in December at www.realalternatives.eu where you will be able to find out more about the programme, volunteer shared resources or register for updates. If you are interested in contributing to the programme, for the UK, contact Miriam Rodway miriam@ior.org.uk


Daikin UK offsets carbon by planting trees


DAIKIN UK has donated funds for almost 10,000 trees to be planted at a wilderness reserve in northern Scotland, as part of its efforts to offset the environmental impact of its business.


The Carbon Managers is the organisation behind the Trees4Business campaign, working with a number of businesses, including Daikin, to offset their carbon output by planting trees at the Alladale Wilderness Reserve. So far, over 800,000 native trees have been planted. George Thomas, account manager at The Carbon Managers, explained that, “for every tonne of carbon created in a one year period, one tree can be planted, which


ACR News January 2014


will counter the effects of this emission over its lifetime”. Each company works out the amount of carbon produced by calculating the amount of carbon emitted from the vehicle fleet, flights made, electricity, heating and other operations. This figure is then used to purchase an equivalent number of trees.


Richard Truttero, manager, general affairs at Daikin UK, said: “We promote our renewable energy products as saving energy and reducing carbon emissions and as such we felt the need to raise our own green credentials. “By participating in this scheme we can offset the carbon emissions that we produce as a business,


and help to preserve the environment that we all live in.”


The planting of trees helps provide the foundation for the natural ecosystem as they provide enrichment for the


soil, and homes for plants, fungi and insects.


Trees also absorb carbon dioxide which helps to combat the emissions produced by industry and domestic households.


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