Sarah Moorhouse – Black Country Chamber of Commerce, Mark Gray – Universal Robots, Oana Jinga – Dexory,
Industrial Strategy could pave the way for growth in industrial heartland – Sarah Moorhouse
The new Industrial Strategy could give a vital boost to the Black Country, with investment in skills critical to the region’s growth.
That’s the view from the Black Country Chamber of Commerce, which welcomed the strategy’s priority support for energy-intensive industries, research and development (R&D) and skills development.
Sarah Moorhouse, chief executive, highlighted the potential benefits for key sectors operating in Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley and Sandwell, including metal processing, advanced manufacturing, automotive and food and beverage production.
She said: “The Black Country is a manufacturing powerhouse with around 3,000 energy intensive businesses operating here – they need electricity bills to come down and they need them to come down quickly as they have sounded the alarm about uncompetitive energy bills for years.
“The targeted support through the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme is very much welcomed and a positive step forward – but the timescale for this is 2027. We need transitional measures to help our electricity-intensive businesses that will ease long-term cost pressures and it may be that the extension of the Network Charging Compensation scheme isn’t enough.”
The Chamber welcomed commitments to R&D and skills development, including the £1billion Clean Energy Supply Chain Fund and the £450million skills investment.
Sarah added: “These are big figures, and we needed the government to recognise that this is the level of investment required to move the dial. When we ask our members about the challenges they face we hear recruitment is tough, skills is a real issue and the cost of doing business is forever increasing.
“The focus on R&D and skills is crucial for the long-term success of our businesses and we are looking forward to seeing the detail in the coming weeks.
“The Industrial Strategy can help our region build on its advanced manufacturing base and more training and apprenticeships is a step in the right direction, but we must ensure that these opportunities are accessible to our regional workforce.”
The Black Country Chamber of Commerce represents around 1,500 businesses employing a significant number of employees across the Black Country region, which includes Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton.
Mark Gray, UK & Ireland Country Manager, Universal Robots
“For too long, UK manufacturers have been operating under a cloud of uncertainty. Soaring energy costs, persistent skills shortages, and mounting geopolitical tensions have placed sustained pressure on the sector in recent years. But in this time, other European nations have pressed ahead with clear, long-term plans. So what’s been stopping the UK from forging ahead?
With the launch of the UK’s 10-year industrial strategy, manufacturing is firmly back on the national agenda. This crucial moment provides an opportunity to help restore global competitiveness, and reignite the UK’s proud manufacturing heritage.
Initiatives like ‘Made Smarter’ have historically been welcomed by industry, but progress has fallen at the first hurdle due to red tape. Under new plans, the Government’s commitment to expanding the initiative – set to reach an additional 5,500 SMEs – signals a more agile, innovation-driven approach, aimed at properly fuelling the growth engines of our economy.
Of equal importance is the pledge to invest an additional £1.2 billion annually by 2028 in skills training. After all, if we want manufacturing to thrive, we need to build a future-ready workforce. And that starts with clear, accessible, ‘learn and earn’ pathways for the next generation of workers, creating a much needed pipeline of homegrown talent we’ll need in years to come.”
Oana Jinga, CCO and Co-Founder of UK robotics and logistics Dexory.
“It’s encouraging to see clear support for small and medium-sized manufacturers in the Industrial Strategy, from extending the Made Smarter programme to expanding access to finance and tackling high energy costs. These measures will help innovative businesses scale up and stay competitive.
However, if the UK wants to lead in truly advanced, high-tech manufacturing, we need more clarity and commitment on how this will be delivered in practice. Modern manufacturing is driven by robotics, automation and cutting-edge R&D, all of which rely on highly skilled engineers, software specialists, and innovators. Attracting young people into this new generation of high-skill manufacturing is vital, and that means investing in training, promoting these careers and ensuring businesses can access specialist talent where local skills are still developing.
As next steps, I’d like to see the government set out a clear, long-term plan for developing advanced manufacturing skills nationwide, launch targeted initiatives to inspire young people into high-tech industry careers, and make it easier for businesses to recruit the specialist talent they need to grow. Continued, targeted support for ambitious smaller manufacturers will be key to keeping the UK at the forefront of manufacturing innovation.”
