POLITICS
Chamber applauds Government’s support for manufacturers
Alok Sharma
Karen Smart, East Midlands Airport’s Managing Director
In April, Alok Sharma, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, wrote an open letter to manufacturers across the UK thanking them for their efforts in the fight against Covid-19. The letter paid tribute to the work that
manufacturing companies and their employees are doing to keep the economy going. It also made clear the Government’s position that there is no restriction on manufacturing continuing, provided it is safe to do so, under current lockdown rules. In the letter, Mr Sharma stated that “…
every business has a role to play in helping the country defeat coronavirus.” He went on to say that the manufacturing
sector was “… contributing to the resilience of our nation,” and that he was “… grateful for the enormous efforts you are making in order to support the UK at this testing
time.” Commenting, Chamber Chief Executive Scott Knowles said: “Manufacturing provides the backbone of the British economy. “It’s crucial that it’s allowed to continue
wherever possible during the current crisis, to ensure that vital supplies continue to be made and distributed to our emergency services, businesses and the people in our communities that need them the most. “This is not just about essential supplies
The sector supports a wide raft of key
business sectors, providing the means to export and import goods and services, as well as transportation locally, regionally and nationally. Transport and logistics is closely linked to the
manufacturing sector of which Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire is famed for. Without each other, neither would be as prosperous. EMA, the UK’s busiest pure cargo airport, is
second only to Heathrow in the volume it handles, with more than 320,000 tonnes of cargo being flown in annually. It is the UK hub for global firms DHL and UPS
and supports operations for TNT and Royal Mail. With international links via this hub, businesses can export goods made in the East Midlands with ease and establish themselves as global suppliers.
Karen Smart, East Midlands Airport’s Managing Director, said: “East Midlands Airport is providing around the clock support to the fight back against Covid-19. “It is at times like these when EMA really
demonstrates its national value and shows how important airfreight is to keeping Britain moving. “The airport is a vital lifeline for businesses
that need to get products to market quickly, the NHS frontline, and those R&D companies that are working flat out to develop new medicines. “Our location means that we’re perfectly
placed to serve a huge population, some of whom are in urgent need of rapid deliveries. “We are still open for business and so the role
we play in the coming weeks and months will only step up a gear as EMA acts as the gateway to the UK for essential goods.”
for the NHS. The aerospace, chemical, automotive, steel, aluminium, pharmaceutical, food and drink and FMCG sectors, among others, all play an important role in ensuring we have access to the items we rely on every day. Without them, the economy will grind to a halt. “People’s safety is, of course, paramount
but it’s important that wherever possible, while observing Government guidance about social distancing, this vital industry is allowed to carry on working to ensure the economy keeps moving and can recover quickly from the shocks that Covid-19 has caused.”
The full letter can be read online at
https://bit.ly/2KnSsVt
business network May 2020 29
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