Sea-change moment for UK’s manufacturing and engineering sectors
Author : Ann Watson, Enginuity
24 June 2025
Ann Watson, CEO, Enginuity
Ann Watson, CEO of Enginuity, the former Sector Skills Council, pledged to work with government to implement the Industrial Strategy and Advanced Manufacturing Plan, unveiled on 23rd June 2025.
"This is a sea-change moment for the UK’s manufacturing and engineering sectors, with government making good on their commitment to set a long-term vision for industry.
"We look forward to working with government to help deliver the Industrial Strategy and accompanying Advanced Manufacturing Plan.
"Government priorities have been clearly laid out, backed by decisive investment and cross-Whitehall policy interventions. Today, the government has sent a message loud and clear to British Industry that it is taking global competitiveness seriously.
"Government has clearly listened to businesses: alongside energy costs, skills gaps are recognised as a key barrier that must be removed to unlock growth.
"Enginuity is pleased to see measures that we and other industry voices have repeatedly called for: a government commitment to review funding bands, support to specifically meet SME training needs, and the need for more agile courses, shorter in length and more closely tied to industry needs.
"The cash injection to support engineering skills is welcome, as is the new sectoral Upskilling and Reskilling Programme - funded by DBT – which intends to facilitate the development of tailored training courses specifically to meet SME training needs.
"With a clearly articulated plan now in place, government must turn its focus to policy implementation and ensure that SMEs do not fall through the cracks of narrow sector definitions or prescriptive eligibility criteria.
"Government’s recognition that SMEs are the backbone of the manufacturing sector will be fundamental to delivering economic growth, and for the UK to be recognised as the best place in the world to start, grow and invest in this sector.
"SMEs often don’t fit neatly into sector boxes, instead they play a crucial role in a diverse mix of supply chains, often simultaneously feeding into several of the designated priority sectors (IS-8).
"A flexible, holistic approach will therefore be needed from government when it comes to sector definitions and the policy interventions that follow, to recognise the critical cross sector role SMEs play in multiple supply chains.
"Manufacturing businesses want their sector to drive economic growth: they want to be at the forefront of technological innovation, making world leading progress in decarbonisation and to be recognised as provider of good jobs."
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