In a significant development for the UK manufacturing industry, leading factory automation supplier FANUC UK has expressed its support for the recent government announcement of a £4.5 billion financial injection into the sector. The allocated funds include £2 billion earmarked for the automotive industry, £975 million for aerospace, and £960 million for clean energy.
Tom Bouchier, Managing Director of FANUC UK, welcomed the funding package, emphasizing its potential to provide the industry with essential long-term certainty. He noted, “This package of loans and grants will help to provide the industry with some much-needed long-term certainty.” The funds are expected to become available to UK manufacturers in 2025, following the next General Election, mandated to be held by January 2025.
As the eighth largest manufacturing nation globally, the UK, according to Bouchier, stands out for its manufacturing prowess. He added, “To keep driving forward and maintain our strong position on the international stage, UK manufacturers need clarity and certainty to enable them to invest for the future and increase their productivity further through advanced technologies such as automation and digitalisation.”
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, underscored the significance of the funding, stating, “Britain is now the eighth largest manufacturer in the world, recently overtaking France.” The government aims to leverage the £4.5 billion investment, anticipating substantial contributions from the private sector. Hunt explained, “Our £4.5bn of funding will leverage many times that from the private sector, and in turn will grow our economy, create more skilled, higher-paid jobs in new industries that will be built to last.”
In addition to the financial boost, the government has committed to expanding the Made Smarter Adoption programme, geared towards accelerating growth among SME manufacturers. The scheme, slated to be rolled out across the whole of England in 2025-26, focuses on helping SMEs utilize advanced digital technologies to enhance productivity, reduce carbon emissions, and includes digital internships.
Tom Bouchier highlighted the alignment of these initiatives with the industry’s current priorities, as discussed at the recent FANUC Open House event. “The key themes among speakers and attendees alike were how UK manufacturers can increase their sustainability credentials, prepare for the future of manufacturing with advanced technologies, and encourage a pipeline of new talent into the industry,” said Bouchier. “The announcement of the Made Smarter expansion plays directly into all these areas. Helping SMEs to compete on the international stage through advanced technologies such as automation and digitalisation – and ensuring we have a workforce with the skills required to capitalise on these – will keep the UK’s manufacturing industry thriving in the years and decades to come.”