21 March 2023
If the UK manufacturing sector embraces greenshoring, it can become a leader in the manufacture of green products.
Senior figures at the High Value Manufacturing Catapult have told an industry leading podcast that if the UK manufacturing sector embraces greenshoring, it can become a leader in the manufacture of green products and have a key competitive advantage in global supply chains.
Katherine Bennett, Professor Sam Turner and Dr Russ Hall were guests on Engineering Matters, alongside South Wales SME Frog Bikes, to talk about how the UK can position itself as a destination for low-carbon manufacture.
Katherine Bennett CBE, HVM Catapult CEO, said:
The UK has key skills in design for manufacture and that should make the case for the manufacturing to also be done here. In the past, maybe that’s reduced, hasn’t it? We’re good at the design and then it goes offshore.
Professor Sam Turner, HVM Catapult net zero champion, said:
This definition of ‘greenshoring’ started from us looking at a risk perspective and the two challenges we saw. One is the need to decarbonise our manufacturing footprint, territorially. And second was the risk that we could potentially end up doing that by offshoring it.
Dr Russ Hall, chief engineer for net zero at HVM Catapult, added:
A project called UK Bike Valley is a great example of where we’re trying to greenshore industry. The sole aim is the reinvigoration of bicycle manufacture in the UK.
Listen to the Engineering Matters podcast below.
You can read or download a transcript of this podcast here.