Foreword
Steve Bagshaw CBE
Chair, HVM Catapult
Manufacturing matters.
From biopesticides to batteries, construction to coding, the sector we support is at the heart of our economy and our culture. Not only does it support 2.6 million jobs, contribute £217 billion each year to our economy and account for 42% of UK exports, it is also a cornerstone of the UK’s net zero ambitions and national resilience.
To remain competitive on the world stage, manufacturers, large and small, must keep their productivity ahead of the curve. Whether it is fabricating silicon chips or assembling blades for floating offshore wind turbines, businesses need to overcome their technology challenges, develop pipelines of talent and stay sustainable.
That is why we innovate.
Productive manufacturers adopt the latest technologies, tools and services to grow profitably and sustainably. They create higher-value jobs, contribute more revenue to the economy and raise the living standards of their employees’ families.
At scale they magnetise inward investment, anchor supply chains, build domestic industries and transform entire communities.
Jobs matter. Growth for the whole of the UK matters. The future of our planet matters.
That is why manufacturing matters.