The image below caught my eye in the latest Make UK UK MANUFACTURING THE FACTS: 2023 report. It made me look deeper to understand if UK manufacturing was a national industry and the demographic spread across the UK.
Lets start with some key facts
➡️ 🇬🇧 The UK Powerhouse of Manufacturing is still the North West (by £bn of manufacturing output)
➡️ 🇬🇧 Yet Yorkshire and Humberside and East Midlands have the highest % of regional employment in manufacturing
➡️ 🇬🇧 Wales has the highest Manufacturing output as a % of regional output (2021)
➡️ 🇬🇧 Scotland and the South East have the highest Manufacturing productivity index 2021 (UK mfg=100)
Its down to history
Manufacturing is spread across the UK, but there are some regions where it is more concentrated. According to the Office for National Statistics, the East Midlands and West Midlands have the highest proportion of employees in manufacturing (12.6 and 11.8% respectively). Wales and the northern regions of England also have a high concentration of manufacturing jobs. London, on the other hand, has the lowest proportion of employees in manufacturing (2.8%).
There are a number of reasons for the different distribution of manufacturing jobs across the UK. One reason is the historical development of different industries in different regions. For example, the West Midlands has a long history of manufacturing cars and other machinery, while the North East of England has a long history of shipbuilding.
Another reason for the different distribution of manufacturing jobs is the availability of resources. For example, the East Midlands has a number of coal and gas fields, which has attracted energy-intensive industries such as steelmaking and chemicals manufacturing.
This spread shows that manufacturing should be more on the national political agenda for investment and to drive economic recovery.
Is the Government Commitment Enough?
The UK government is committed to supporting manufacturing across the country. It has a number of policies in place to encourage businesses to invest in manufacturing, such as tax breaks and grants. The government is also investing in infrastructure and skills training to support the manufacturing sector.
Here are some examples of major manufacturing centers in different regions of the UK:
- East Midlands: Nottingham, Derby, Leicester
- West Midlands: Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Coventry
- North West: Manchester, Liverpool, Preston
- North East: Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Sunderland
- Yorkshire and the Humber: Leeds, Sheffield, Hull
- Wales: Cardiff, Swansea, Newport
- Scotland: Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen
These manufacturing centers produce a wide range of products, including cars, aerospace components, pharmaceuticals, food and drink, and chemicals.
The UK manufacturing sector is a vital part of the UK economy. It employs millions of people and contributes billions of pounds to the UK’s GDP. The government is committed to supporting the manufacturing sector and helping it to grow and innovate in the future.
Find out more about Nick Leeder & Co
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