We must rebalance the UK economy whatever the economic conditions

Siemens is proud to be a key sponsor of Automated Britain, which is being held at The Commonwealth Club in London on Tuesday March 6, 2012. Here Juergen Maier, Managing Director of Siemens UK Industry Sector, explains why the UK has no choice but to move forward in order for the economy to recover.

Somebody asked me if it was possible to talk of rebalancing the UK economy in the face of an economic storm and whether the Government policies in place were sufficient to allow this to happen. I replied that the current economic conditions make it doubly important that we should aim to redress the balance towards manufacturing, which at the moment only stands at 12% of GDP compared with a European average of 25% and a world average of 31%.

As for government action, we have renewed support for apprenticeships and vocational training. For instance, there are a number of University Technical Colleges that are being set up to offer 14-19 year olds the opportunity to take a full time, technically-oriented course of study.

Each one is equipped to the highest standard and sponsored by a university or college. Thirteen new University Technical Colleges are to be opened across England including The Black Country University Technical College, which opened in the West Midlands in partnership with Siemens.

Another key initiative is the High Value Manufacturing Catapult which, in October 2011, brought seven partners together to form the new Catapult centre, bringing together their expertise in different and complementary areas of high value manufacturing.

The new centre provides an integrated capability and embraces all forms of manufacture using metals and composites, in addition to process manufacturing technologies and bio-processing. The High Value Manufacturing Catapult will draw on excellent university research to accelerate the commercialisation of new and emerging manufacturing technologies.

At Siemens we are delighted to be able to support both these initiatives and several others which are engaging with our sector.

The Automated Britain conference has already attracted significant cross-party political support from policy makers in government and industry and politicians from all parties. Mark Prisk MP, Minister for Business and Enterprise, will deliver one of the keynote addresses; 'The view from Government’. He will be joined at the event by Chi Onwurah, Labour MP for Newcastle Central and Shadow Minister for Innovation, Science and Digital Infrastructure.

Also present will be Iain Wright, MP for Hartlepool and Keith Hodgkinson, Head of electronics, materials, chemicals and product regulation at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), who will chair the last panel session.

Automated Britain is a joint conference between GAMBICA and Intellect to promote automation as a key factor in growing the UK economy. To attend the event, go to www.automatedbritain.co.uk and click book now. GAMBICA and Intellect members and invited guests will pay a special rate of only £245 to attend.

Automated Britain attracts significant cross-party political support

Policy makers in government and industry and politicians from all parties are supporting the Automated Britain conference reports Steve Brambley, deputy director of GAMBICA.

Automated Britain is attracting significant cross-party political support. A joint initiative between GAMBICA and Intellect to promote automation as a key factor in growing the UK economy, is taking place at the Commonwealth Club in London on March 6 2012.

Mark Prisk

Mark Prisk MP, Minister for Business and Enterprise, will deliver the keynote address 'The view from Government'. Also attending will be Chi Onwurah, Member of Parliament for Newcastle Central and Shadow Minister for Innovation, Science and Digital Infrastructure.

Julian Huppert

Julian Huppert, Member of Parliament for Cambridge, said this about the event: “Investment in automation is crucial if our manufacturing industry is to retain its place in the competitive global market and grow in the future, bringing desperately needed new jobs.

“These are extremely difficult economic times but by embracing new technology we equip our manufacturing industry with the most up-to-date tools it needs to keep a competitive edge. And of course, this industry’s success is vital for the UK economy as a whole, not only producing the goods we need at home but holding our strong position in the extremely important international export market.

“In addition to the huge economic benefits that automation brings, there are also environmental advantages. Automation consumes less energy, controls pollution and cuts carbon emissions.”

Pauline Latham OBE, Member of Parliament for Mid Derbyshire, adds: “Automation technology has the potential to increase the competitiveness of our manufacturing industries, whilst increasing energy efficiency and reducing emissions. For this technology to be successful in Britain, it is important that there is a continued supply of motivated and well educated young people to continue the trade, and this could be done by graduate and apprenticeship schemes.”

Chi Onwurah (right)

At the event, automation users and manufacturers will team up with politicians and civil servants to demonstrate that the economy can be rebalanced by manufacturing, and that automation plays a major part in that.

The conference will also explore whether there are any perceived obstacles that discourage industry from making more of this type of investment, and will end with a panel discussion ‘Investment in automation; What are the drivers to encourage uptake?’, chaired by Keith Hodgkinson, Head of electronics, Materials, Chemicals and Product Regulation at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).

To attend Automated Britain go to Intellect's website and click book now. GAMBICA and Intellect members and invited guests will pay a special rate of only £245 to attend.