Valerie attends Make UK drop-in to show support for British manufacturing

I attended Make UK’s parliamentary drop-in session on Tuesday 4 February to show my support for British manufacturers. In Walsall South, there are currently 250 manufacturing businesses which represent 4,500 jobs.

Manufacturers the length and breadth of Britain play a vital role in local economies, with the majority small to medium-sized businesses which create local business hubs as well as training and employing local people. Being the lifeblood of so many communities is what they do best and with a supportive business environment their role can expand yet further.

In local economies, manufacturers create business hubs as well as training and employing local people. These are excellent jobs with average salaries some 13% higher than the wider economy.

At the event I talked about current policy priorities for UK manufacturers, which include:

• Ensuring clarity and certainty for businesses as we negotiate our future trading relationship with the EU
• Working towards a digital future through smart use of technology and data
• Inspiring the next generation of manufacturing employees and ensuring they are equipped with the skills they need for the future
• Creating a low-carbon, sustainable and internationally competitive UK manufacturing sector which acts as an exemplar for green growth and thriving economy
• Encouraging more businesses to take up the opportunity to grow their exports

Make UK is the voice of manufacturing in the UK, representing all aspects of the manufacturing sector including engineering, aviation, defence, oil and gas, food and chemicals. Comprising some 20,000 businesses employing almost one million workers, Make UK members operate in the UK, Europe and throughout the world in a dynamic and highly competitive environment.

You can read more about their work by visiting their website: https://www.makeuk.org/about