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SECTOR FOCUS: INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY
The Government’s Green Paper on UK Industrial Strategy
identified a number of pillars ranging from research and
infrastructure to training and regional imbalances that are
fundamental to industrial well-being. While the inclusion
of these pillars is unsurprising, and many have been
discussed at length previously, it is clear that they all need
to be addressed to maximise the UK’s competitiveness.
The impact of Brexit is still far from certain. However,
this uncertainty makes it even more important that
Government listens to the views of industry, recognises
the many benefits of having a manufacturing base in the
UK, and implements a coherent strategy for the sector’s
development.
Transport policy
One of the central pillars of the Strategy is the provision
of an appropriate transport infrastructure. The difficulty
here, as we all know, is that the road and rail networks
are already highly congested. This congestion adds a
considerable cost burden to business as well as having a
damaging environmental impact. Addressing the problem
will be a lengthy and costly affair, but doing so via a
coordinated transport policy is absolutely critical.
Rail and air
Ongoing recent improvements to the existing rail system
have meant that its use has increased significantly. This is
By Simon Lloyd,
Partner, Industrial
Shaping
Industry’s
Future
Whilst the Government’s recently launched Green Paper on
Industrial Strategy lacked detail, it did show real appreciation of the
industrial sector’s achievements and importance to the UK economy.
The required focus going forward is surely to ensure that industry
and its surrounding infrastructure is fit for a post-Brexit world.
PERSPECTIVES
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SECTOR FOCUS: INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY