Make UK Event 14 June 2022

Make UK hosted an event which took place on Tuesday 14 June 2022 to discuss the challenges and opportunities the manufacturing industry is facing currently and to meet apprentices. In Walsall South there are 240 manufacturing businesses and 4500 manufacturing jobs. This represents over 10.23% of all jobs in the constituency. 

I pledged my support for National Manufacturing Day, which will be held on 7 July 2022. The Day will see manufacturers showcase the range of highly skilled and well-paid jobs they have on offer by throwing open their doors in a UK wide Open House. Local communities will have the chance to see the potential careers and jobs available within the UK’s wonderfully diverse manufacturing sector, highlighting career opportunities for school leavers, graduates and people looking to reskill at all levels. 

The manufacturing sector in the UK accounts for 2.5 million jobs, with an output of £183 billion and 64% of all UK business research and development. Wages in the sector are over 12% higher than the national average. Make UK represent 20,000 manufacturers in the UK, Europe and around the world, operating across engineering, aviation, defence, oil and gas. In 2022 the industry is having to adapt to meet the needs of a new economy and find solutions to the world’s economic challenges. This includes maintaining necessary workforce skills, finding innovative ways to transition to Net Zero, and confronting ongoing supply chain difficulties. 9 in 10 Make UK members have faced significant supply chain disruption owing to the pandemic, and almost 2/3 have already taken steps towards Net Zero. 

With apprentices Cameron and Joel