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manufacturing roundtable


The Business Magazine and sponsors NatWest, law firm Shoosmiths, accountancy firm MHA MacIntyre Hudson, global insurance broker JLT and computer solutions company Taylor Made, invited representatives of leading Southern Manufacturing 100 companies to provide their insights ...


Manufacturing: the UK’s unsung hero? Participants


Kate Arnott: Partner, MHA MacIntyre Hudson, High Wycombe


Paul Goodman: Development director, JLT, Reading


Mark Jolly: Professor of sustainable manufacturing, Cranfield University


Nick Jones: Relationship director, manufacturing specialist, NatWest


Stephen Lane: Finance director, Xtrac, transmissions technology, Thatcham


Chris Reid: Electronic production platform leader, McLaren Applied Technologies


Lined up to debate: the Roundtable team John Burbedge reports the Roundtable highlights


While the region, particularly the Thames Valley, is well-known for its technology sector, there are actually more manufacturing businesses in the south east than any other UK region, David Murray pointed out. The lack of awareness is because most businesses are relatively small, niche manufacturers or high-end specialist engineering companies. “So, we have a very strong, if somewhat unrecognised, manufacturing sector in this region, and we are shining a spotlight on that with our annual Southern Manufacturing 100 listing of top independent companies, spanning £2 billion-plus to £5.88 million turnovers.” (View at www.businessmag.co.uk)


How healthy is manufacturing at present?


Globally, manufacturing represents a £6.7 trillion economy, and the UK is the 16th largest manufacturing nation in the world, noted Murray. “Manufacturing is still an incredibly important part of the UK economy.”


The general Roundtable consensus of the UK sector’s current mood was ‘cautious optimism.’


Banker Nick Jones: “Sentiment is pretty good but there are some headwaves. Manufacturing output has slowed a bit caused by concern around the Chinese slowdown and continuing problems in Europe. We have seen a period of SMEs building cash and holding back on investment because they do not have the confidence yet to move forward.”


Paul Goodman agreed, noting the recent EEF Manufacturing Outlook’s halving of its 2015 UK manufacturing growth forecast to 0.7%. “They are worried about what China will do next with its currency. The sector


www.businessmag.co.uk Sean Wright


is good and getting better, but there is still some concern about where Asia and possibly Greece will take us.”


From his viewpoint Tim Walker reported key trends over the past two years – increased backing from VC and PE funding for manufacturing; recruitment and bolstering of company senior teams; and good diversification away from troubled industries (oil and gas) enabling a continuing platform for business’s growth. “Our take is that the


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – NOVEMBER 2015


Michael Sachpekidis: Business development manager, Moog industrial group


Graham Wadsworth: Member Thames Valley Berkshire LEP (director Indigo Blue)


Tim Walker: MD, Taylor Made Computer Solutions, Fareham


Sean Wright: Partner, Shoosmiths, Thames Valley


David Murray: The Business Magazine managing editor and publisher, chaired the discussion


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