We were delighted to recently exhibit at and attend Make UK’s National Manufacturing Conference and Dinner. The event signified the start of a new chapter in the history of The Manufacturers’ Association, EEF, unveiling a re-brand to ‘Make UK’ in a move that reflects the change and evolution of the sector. 

At a time when the country and the industrial sector face an unparalleled set of challenges and opportunities – including Brexit, digitalisation, automation, artificial intelligence and the emergence of new markets – “it was time for us to adopt a modern name designed to reflect the world-class innovation undertaken by our member companies across the whole of the country.” said Make UK CEO, Stephen Phipson.

Key topics within manufacturing

I attended the conference and dinner along with Jonathan Lee and David Woakes, at the QEII Centre, London, which attracted over 800 of the UK’s most influential manufacturing and political leaders to discuss the key topics:

• How do we establish our competitive advantage in this fast-changing, globalised world? 
• How do we prepare ourselves for international marketplace of the 21st Century?

Skills remain critical 

As Make UK’s Advantages Partner for recruitment services, it was refreshing to hear the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond MP, emphasise the importance of investment in skills during his dinner speech.  “Making sure you have the right people to make your business grow is critical.”

The Chancellor highlighted Government’s £500 million a year investment in T-level vocational training, £100 million into the new National Retraining Scheme, to make sure that British workers can face the challenge of technological change, and commitment to deliver 3 million high quality apprenticeships in this Parliament through the Apprenticeship Levy - all collectively reasserting the importance of technical education.

As well as supporting future skills, Mr Hammond reiterated his commitment to investing in new technologies and innovation, modernising our roads and railways, cutting taxes for workers and for the businesses that employ them, along with reducing energy costs and carbon footprint as outlined in the Modern Industrial Strategy.

Make UK’s Recruitment Advantages Partner 

Make UK is a proactive organisation that we are proud to partner with in supporting British manufacturers. We work closely with Make UK as Recruitment Advantages Partner to provide expert resourcing solutions to members who may be struggling to recruit skilled individuals to assist in digital transformation or because of the ongoing skills shortage. 
 
Over the course of the partnership, we have successfully placed candidates in permanent, contract and interim positions from shop floor technicians, technical and commercial specialists to mid-level management and executive appointments.