Trump’s tariffs, rising energy costs, Brexit, supply chain issues, increased minimum wage, National Insurance hikes …
… all topics tackled at a business grants forum staged by the Technology Supply Chain.
The purpose of the briefing at the National Brownfield Institute in Wolverhampton was to alert local manufacturers about available support, including grant funding, amid the perfect storm of headwinds facing the sector.
The UK must become more self-sufficient.
Dr richard fallon – ceo of the technology supply chain
Dr Richard Fallon, CEO of the Technology Supply Chain, a West Midlands-based tech and manufacturing supply chain membership group, said: “Some manufacturers have already shut up shop deciding that it is no longer worth it. This is a major issue for the region as the jobs, prosperity and capability they offer are lost. Once these businesses have gone, they are gone. There is no-one queuing up to fill the gap they have left.”
As US President Donald Trump seeks unashamedly to drive industry and jobs back to America with his swingeing import levies, Dr Fallon said: “The UK must become more self-sufficient. We need to keep our manufacturers and re-shore more manufacturing.
“There are grants available to help manufacturers”
“Thankfully, there are solutions. These range from reducing costs and minimising waste to adopting digitisation, automation and AI. There are grants available to help manufacturers invest in solar panels and more energy-efficient equipment.”
Organisations like Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) offer expert support, having helped one manufacturer reduce the energy use of individual machines by a staggering 82%.
Johnathan Dudley, head of manufacturing at Crowe UK, said: “We can help manufacturers to identify waste in their business – of up to 20% of their total costs. We then help them eliminate a proportion of this waste making a significant improvement to the bottom line of a business.”
Other experts on the speaking roster included Dr Paul Milne from WMG, Dr Chinny Nzekwe-Excel from Birmingham City University and Megan Young from tax services firm Ryan.
Dr Fallon, ever upbeat, added: “The West Midlands, historically the beating heart of Britain’s industrial revolution, remains a crucial manufacturing hub in the 21st century.”
