At the end of last month Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Business Secretary Vince Cable came to the Wirral to lead a major manufacturing event.

The high-profile duo were joined by 250 business and public sector leaders at the New Brighton Floral Pavillion where the where the government’s industrial policy was revealed.

Cable championed investment in apprenticeships but said he wanted to see more women in industry and praised initiatives like Inspiring Women and See Inside Manufacturing which aim to recruit more women into manufacturing.

He said:

“Our investment in research and development and skills training plus a tax break which incentivises companies to buy new plant and machinery, is giving business the confidence to invest, securing high skilled long term jobs and building a stronger economy,

“The UK economy badly needs technology and engineering skills. The shortfall is most acute in relation to women, where fewer than 1 in 10 UK engineering professionals are female. This is not good enough and must improve.”

Business minister Michael Fallon also announced that a new government funded body to attract inward investment to the UK automative sector has smashed its targets in its first year.

The Automotive Investment Organisation was created to encourage inward investment into the UK and has so far achieved: £457m worth of investment; funded 80 projects – beating the target of 60 projects and secured more than 5,600 supply chain jobs secured – beating the 4,000 jobs target of 4000 jobs.

Mr Fallon said:

“Manufacturing is driving the UK’s recovery and our vibrant automotive sector is leading the way in helping to create jobs and generate growth.”

Source: The Business Desk

Image source: Liverpool Echo