MANUFACTURING Future Perfect?


Whatever happened to the UK electronics industry?


Dr Colin Tucker, chairman of antenna specialist Novocomms, takes a sober look at the current state of the sector and makes some suggestions on how the government might help the industry.


B


ack in 2018, Make UK published a report trumpeting a bright future for the UK electronics sector. According to the   manufacturing sector in 2018. Carried out   in both 2017 and 2018; up 4.4 percent and 12.4  less than 5 percent of UK manufacturing  


   markets like Asia and the roll-out of 5G    


Then came the economic crash, the global   


 the 2018 report appears to be a one off  in 2023 makes for sobering reading. Figures published in ‘Manufacturing – The Facts’,  about the contribution of manufacturing    in 2022 UK manufacturing output totalled $259bn.


  th


place in the global league of manufacturing          


What does this new uncertainty mean for the UK and is there an opportunity for our government to develop a bold new strategy to take advantage of this?


  


“


mere brush strokes, not landscapes painted 


   fundamental change. I’d like to see the formation of a UK Electronics Manufacturing         aerospace.


This plan should also include major   


     the bigger picture, these are mere brush strokes, not 


sector and not just slogans or       


28 DECEMBER/JANUARY 2025 | ELECTRONICS FOR ENGINEERS


    the arts, politics or economics. It is time   market share in the global market.


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