Crowe reiterates call for dedicated manufacturing minister

The head of manufacturing at Crowe, one of the UK 's leading national audit, tax, advisory and risk firms, has reiterated his call for the government to appoint a Minister for Manufacturing to help lead the transformation of the UK to a Net Zero economy.

Crowe Midlands and South West managing partner Johnathan Dudley (pictured) said: “If the UK is serious about tackling the challenges of decarbonising its economy, the Government must place the country 's world class manufacturing at the cornerstone of its ambitions by appointing a dedicated Minister for the industry.

Manufacturing currently comes under the remit of the Minister of State for Industry, a role covering numerous sectors such has retail, hospitality, professional and business services, consumer goods and many other industries. Calls for a dedicated minister are supported by over 70 per cent of businesses in the sector and the industry trade body, Made UK.

Mr Dudley added: “Determining a long-term strategy, a minister for manufacturing can light the fuse of a new industrial revolution in the UK by aligning innovation, economic development, education and support nearly a million green jobs to help get this country making, building and adding value again.

“My call over the last 12 months to appoint a dedicated Minister also requires the political and social will, especially given the significant economic challenges the industry is facing. Without it, the required direction to mobilise and deliver the necessary investment to take advantage of what it has on its doorstep could see it left behind in securing its low carbon future. ”

“Yes, we need more electricity production to drive electric motors, but we also need to build the right infrastructure to secure the UK 's energy future. A dedicated Minister can kick-start domestic production of renewable energy by also supporting changes to planning laws which could encourage, for example, more solar farms on industrial and commercial roofs and public car parks to quadruple energy capacity. ”

A Minster could also advocate unlocking new onshore wind development, which faces continued de-facto ban and is holding back a potential 35GW to the grid by 2035 as well as thousands of potential green jobs.

Appointing a dedicated Minister should include having the remit of promoting the policy of reshoring or “friend shoring ”. By sourcing from countries that are geopolitical allies, it would safeguard strategic supplies of materials and components required by the manufacturing industry to support the green economy over the next century.

“A Minister for Manufacturing would also support an education system which has broad appeal to help prepare the current workforce with new skills to succeed in the green economy. Giving people the opportunity to gain practical skills for construction building and civil engineering, plumbing, roofing, bricklaying and electrics to help build, develop, add value would ensure long-term national competitiveness. ”

Mr Dudley is Crowe 's UK Head of Manufacturing and the firm 's Midlands office holds regular Manufacturing Business Network events.

Crowe has also launched its annual Manufacturing Outlook Survey 2023 and you can access the survey here. Interested companies can contact Nathan Sanghera on 0121 543 1900 or email nathan.sanghera@crowe.co.uk.