After a two year hiatus, we were back for the National Manufacturing Conference at the QEII last Tuesday.

It was fantastic to have over 800 manufacturers from every part of the UK together to celebrate the work of the sector - from supporting the effort to manufacture PPE for the NHS, keeping food stocked on our supermarket shelves, to taking part in the ventilator challenge.

Throughout the day we were joined by Ministers, Government officials, industry experts and many many more to discuss all the big issues impacting the manufacturing sector. We run through the key takeaways below, and what it means for our sector.

Our favourite host Steph McGovern was back to kick off the conference - a champion of apprenticeships but also the sector having previously worked in it. CEO Stephen Phipson then gave a more sobering analysis of the challenges our sector has had to face, but despite it all, order books are full, confidence is holding up, and investment is still a priority.

Andrew Neil focused on the scarcity of labour issue, suggesting the real challenge facing businesses is the fight for talent - something most manufacturers would certainly agree with. But he also highlighted the change we are seeing in global supply chains:

We then heard from Shadow BEIS Secretary of State Jonathan Reynolds, who reiterated the Labour Party’s commitment to reintroduce an industrial strategy to support the manufacturing sector:

Lord William Hague then spoke about the next decade being one that will focus on innovation. Economies and countries that focus on this will prosper. He interestingly called for a Department of Science Innovation and Engineering to make sure the UK manufacturing sector remains at the forefront of this new frontier:

We then discussed the big policy issues in our breakout workshop sessions on transitioning to net-zero, building resilient workforces, and global supply chains.

Here are the key takeaways from each session:

This workshop focused on taking stock of where manufacturers were on their net zero journey six months on from COP 26. Rosa Wilkinson, Director of Policy & Comms at HVMC set the stage setting out the importance of the manufacturing sector’s transition to net zero, the potential challenges that businesses might face, and the potential commercial opportunities that could be gained.

Our own work found manufacturers see net zero as a high priority and they are implementing net zero strategies within their business. Ava Jones from AESSEAL and Howard Pickard from LBBC gave direct business views, talking about the practical steps their businesses have taken to move towards net zero, and how they have overcome challenges and have already gained returns on their net zero investments. Finally, Dimitrios Spiliopoulos shared how digital technologies can support manufacturers on their net-zero journey no matter how big or small the business.

Attendees of the ‘Building Resilient Workforces and Leading Successful Businesses’ breakout session identified higher-level technical skills, digital skills, and leadership and management as their immediate priorities for investment in training and development.

Panellists from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, ABB and training provider Multiverse agreed that progression and the right company culture are key to workforce retention as manufacturers fight to keep talent in their businesses and that investment in leadership and management, as well as technical skills, is a key part of achieving this.

The Covid pandemic has highlighted both the strengths but also some weaknesses in the supply of raw materials and inputs as well as supply chain systems and infrastructure. In addition, the UK has undergone the most significant reset of its international trading relationships which continues to evolve.

But despite the immediate supply challenges being faced by the industry, the panellists were optimistic about the future opportunities that businesses will be able to take advantage of as the UK moves to capitalise on its strengths.

We finished the conference with dinner where we were joined by Minister for Industry, Lee Rowley. In his address to manufacturers, he announced a new manufacturing prospectus - with the aim to recognise that manufacturing matters and that we must make the UK a destination to do manufacturing.

Whilst it isn’t quite the national manufacturing plan we called for in our recent levelling up work, it is a welcomed step in the right direction to providing the kind of business environment that manufacturers need to thrive - but crucially support the wider levelling up agenda.

This week is #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek. After two years of living through a pandemic, going back to ‘normal’ – whatever that is – is not easy. More and more we hear from manufacturers that they are placing greater emphasis on supporting their staff’s mental health, from appointing designated mental health first aiders to investing more in training senior leaders to develop a culture in which mental health needs can be discussed.

The podcasts will have advice from leaders in the sector on what works well to help employees suffering with poor mental health, as well as what more can be done to be proactive in preventing and addressing mental health needs in the workforce.

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Copy editor: Bhavina Bharkhada, Make UK Head of Policy & Campaigns