On shoring or re-investing in UK industry

[HE117]

Yesterday the Guardian was claiming that COVID-19 and BREXIT would result in the manufacture of consumer goods returning to the UK. The sectors they mentioned were food, fashion, homeware, and DIY products.

At the same time we need to protect intellectual property and drive exports. We need to reduce the dependence on the retail sector as a source of employment.

...and the service sector!

 

[Cold_Collation]

...and the service sector!

Yes. Well done Brown and Blair, who were warned repeatedly not to ignore manufacturing (which contracted more under those two than under Thatcher).

 

[Yokel]

...and the service sector!

There are services that are not unrelated to manufacturing, such as technical consultancy, design services, maintenance, repair, and overhaul services, software design and support....

We need more of them - things like selling software over the internet or consultancy about shipping. Although these types of thing serve a worldwide market they are classed as services.

 

[Cold_Collation]

There are services that are not unrelated to manufacturing, such as technical consultancy, design services, maintenance, repair, and overhaul services, software design and support....

We need more of them - things like selling software over the internet or consultancy about shipping.

But I don't consider them service sector. They are manufacturing.

 

[Yokel]

But I don't consider them service sector. They are manufacturing.

They do not produce tangible goods though so they are classed as services. I wonder whether anyone has considered if it makes sense to class things repairing and calibrating electronic test equipment as the same as selling cuppicino?

After sales support is also probably considered to be a service.

 

[Tedsson]

Yes. Well done Brown and Blair, who were warned repeatedly not to ignore manufacturing (which contracted more under those two than under Thatcher).

Incorrect.

Manufacturing output 1969-2020 from ONS:

Up to COVID 19 Thatchers first government saw the largest drop in modern history.

The numbers from about 1990 are actually better than they look as much of the "output" from manufacturing (IT, services etc.) has been outsourced and comes under the services output classification, despite originating in manufacturing.

 

[Yokel]

Do things such as Marshall Aerospace maintaining and repairing Hercules aircraft for other countries count as a service? It is not manufacturing but is definitely technical work.

What about ship repair and conversion?

Also printing is manufacturing. But not a publisher selling online articles and publications.

 

[Yokel]

This is an example of what I mean:

A&P Group Brochure

Clicking on their website page for the Commercial Marine Sector:

As the largest commercial ship repair and conversion specialist in the UK, A&P Group offers an extensive portfolio of services to ship owners, in the UK and abroad.

A&P Group’s three strategic UK sites offer ship repair services including: dry docking, voyage repairs, major refits and conversions; fabrication of parts; vessel mobilisation and demobilisation as well as refits, modifications and upgrades for ferries, ro-ros, jack-up vessels, tugs and survey vessels.

With a highly skilled workforce including naval architects, designers and specialist fabricators as well as extensive, well-equipped facilities across the UK, A&P Group has an unfaltering commitment to quality driven engineering excellence.