Manchester, 2012-Jun-06
Vince Cable will be speaking at the Siemens Answers for Industry conference’s VIP 'Make it in Great Britain' event, addressing an audience of leading figures from the UK’s industry sector.
The event will focus on encouraging long-term economic growth, and rebalancing the economy towards a stronger manufacturing sector. He will highlight what the government is doing to support UK manufacturers to improve skills and encourage R&D and investment.
Business Secretary Vince Cable said, "The key to a sustainable and balanced economy is having a long term approach to growth, investing in manufacturing technology, R&D and skills so we have the right talent to make the most of the recovery. Working with business, we are taking steps to strengthen the UK’s manufacturing capability, ensuring a better business environment that will address barriers to growth, encourage innovation, exports and inward investment as well as build UK supply chains.”
The speech to leading manufacturers and industry figureheads follows last week’s release of the Siemens Industry UK Impulse report which revealed a lack of consensus on the economic climate, the appetite to invest and on the need for greater government support for the sector.
Respondents placed UK industry just behind China and India when it comes to manufacturing innovation, but half (51%) of respondents did not think the UK is as advanced as it could be in industrial automation, and must urgently invest in the area.
Juergen Maier, Managing Director of Siemens Industry added: “In order to have a sustainable recovery in the manufacturing sector it is vital that as a country we have a long term investment strategy - where Government, works in conjunction with businesses across the supply chain.”
“Investment in skills alongside R&D and manufacturing technologies is critical, and we are working hard in these areas – but we need to work harder at convincing the whole sector that by preparing for the upturn now we will create jobs and growth for the future. At the moment the sectors attitude towards investing especially in manufacturing plant and automation is not preparing us well enough in that regard”
“Despite the recessionary backdrop, we remain optimistic about the year ahead, and we hope that the Answers for Industry Conference will be a forum to discuss the UK’s strategy for long term industrial revival”
Following the keynote address there will be a panel debate to discuss the critical role UK manufacturing will play in helping ensure Britain’s economic prosperity. The panel will include Dame Nancy Rothwell, Chancellor of the University of Manchester and 'Make it in Great Britain' Industry Champions Will Butler-Adams and Emma Bridgewater. Engineer and former Tomorrow’s World presenter, Kate Bellingham will facilitate the debate.
Answers for Industry is a two day conference being held at the Manchester Central Convention Complex that will see figures across the Industry sector enhance their competitiveness through workshops and learning opportunities related to efficient manufacturing, green buildings, and renewable energy.
To find out more about Answers for Industry, please visit www.siemens.co.uk/afi
ENDS
About Siemens in the UK
Siemens was established in the United Kingdom 169 years ago and now employs 12,972 people in the UK. Last year’s revenues were £4.4 billion*. As a leading global engineering and technology services company, Siemens provides innovative solutions to help tackle the world’s major challenges, across the key sectors of energy, industry, infrastructure & cities and healthcare. Siemens has offices and factories throughout the UK, with its headquarters in Frimley, Surrey. The company’s global headquarters is in Munich, Germany. For more information, visit www.siemens.co.uk
* Data includes intercompany revenue. Data may not be comparable with revenue reported in annual or interim reports.
For more information, please contact:
Anne Keogh
Mob: +44 (0) 7808 823545
Mail to: anne.keogh@siemens.com
The Make it in Great Britain is a campaign, launched by the Business Secretary Vince Cable and Business Minister, Mark Prisk, aims to transform the image of modern UK manufacturing and to raise awareness of its importance for the economy. The campaign will culminate in an exhibition which celebrates the best of British manufacturing. It will be held at the London Science Museum during the Olympic and Paralympic Games time – 24 July to 9 September. The exhibition will highlight the successes of the manufacturing sector to encourage young people to consider a career in the industry and businesses to invest. For more information, visit http://makeitingreatbritain.bis.gov.uk/
