Institution responds to Government's Foresight report on the future of UK manufacturing

The Institution's Philippa Oldham says report has welcome proposals including the recommendation for a new Office for Manufacturing, but report highlights the urgent need for work to encourage more people to take up engineering careers.

Philippa Oldham, Head of Transport and Manufacturing at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, said in response to the Foresight report on the future of UK manufacturing:

"The report has some very welcome proposals - particularly the recommendation for a new Office of Manufacturing. This Office could help provide much needed cross-party stability for the industry and also help commercialise the concepts and prototypes developed through Research Councils and the Technology Strategy Board. The Office of Manufacturing could also be instrumental to developing metrics and new ways of gathering information about the sector to help identify the areas of manufacturing that are bringing the most value for the UK.

"UK manufacturing is already undergoing a process of revolution thanks to technologies like printable electronics, and there are set to be many more exciting developments in the future. The mass personalisation of products, which will become increasingly low cost will mean there is the potential for bedside manufacturing of bespoke drugs or replacement organs.

"But the report also highlights some challenges faced by the sector - most notably the need to fill about 800,000 jobs in the years to 2020, as people retire or leave manufacturing. What this report makes clear is that Government, industry and education providers must work together to attract and train more UK engineers."

To read the full Government report: The Future of UK Manufacturing: a new era of opportunity and challenge for the UK