WEEKLY DIGEST

In a week dominated by Nissan's good news, this is a decent overview of the current situation in UK manufacturing (FT)

UK manufacturers call for clearer, stronger strategy for growth (EEF)

SCP has a nice section on its manufacturing history and capabilities (SCP)

And something I missed last week: Cherchbi visits the B.B Stanley foundry in Walsall (Cherchbi Journal)

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Photo of a worker at B.B Stanley by Cherchbi

WEEKLY DIGEST

UK manufacturing skills a lure for luxury brands (Reuters)

Report compiled by JCB chairman calls for UK 'manufacturing tsar' (FT)

Hand framing at Corgi (The Gentleman's Corner)

An interview with the boss of David Nieper, a nightwear company based in Derbyshire (Telegraph)

Lighting company Thorn announces new UK manufacturing plans (The Manufacturer)

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Photo from Factory Visit no.3 : Globe Trotter

MARK PRISK : A BRIEF Q&A WITH THE MANUFACTURING MINISTER

Following the recent launch of the government's Make it in Great Britain campaign, I had the opportunity to ask manufacturing minister Mark Prisk a few questions about the initiative and UK manufacturing in general:

M&I: Is the future of UK manufacturing based on premium products?

MP: People look to Britain and see the expertise and quality of the goods we produce, from Rolls-Royce aircraft engines to Sunseeker yachts. However it should also be said that there is huge diversity in manufacturing, with both premium and standard products proving successful.

Manufacturing contributes £140bn pa to UK economy. We make everything from biscuits and stairlifts, to ejector seats and off-road vehicles, so we really want to celebrate that diversity and show off our successes. Only by doing that will we inspire young people to be our inventors, engineers and technicians of the future.

M&I: Do you think the definition of manufacturing needs to be reconsidered?

MP: I don't think it's about re-defining manufacturing, it’s more about highlighting what modern manufacturing is all about. We have some world leading British manufacturers, from the aerospace and marine sectors through to food and drink manufacturing, but we need to highlight these successes. That is the role of the Make it in Great Britain campaign; and for that matter the Queen Elizabeth Engineering Prize, which the Prime Minister announced last week, and our See Inside Manufacturing initiative - they all have a vital part to play in our long term plan for British manufacturing.

M&I: Recently there have been a couple of 'Made in the UK' logos launched. Do you see a need for an official badge for items made here?

MP: I don't see it as Government's role to tell people what logos they should use on their products.

What I want to do is help people in the UK to take a fresh look at manufacturing and to appreciate the scale and excellence of our industry. My focus is to overturn the myth that 'we don't make anything any more' and to champion the exciting reality of British manufacturing today.

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Image of Rolls-Royce factory workers from Design Talks

WEEKLY DIGEST

Items of note on manufacturing in the UK and related subjects from the last week:

The newly unveiled McLaren production centre looks pretty swish (Design Boom)

Inside Pashley: Britain's oldest bicycle maker (Humans Invent)

"The design and making of things is terribly important, especially at this moment in time." Sir Terence Conran on Front Row (BBC R4)

Why doesn't Britain make things anymore? (Guardian)

related: Aditya Chakrabortty on the 'de-industrial revolution' (BBC R3)

Fiat boss urges CBI: keep UK factories open (Guardian)

McLaren image from Design Boom

MAKE IT IN GREAT BRITAIN : VINCE CABLE & MARK PRISK LAUNCH NEW CAMPAIGN TO SUPPORT BRITISH MANUFACTURING

I was invited to the launch of a government campaign to support British manufacturing today. Make it in Great Britain aims to 'change the image of manufacturing' according to Vince Cable, business secretary.

As a consequence of this image change, it is hoped that Make it in Great Britain will encourage young people to consider careers in manufacturing. The centre piece of the campaign will be an exhibition at the Science Museum, taking place from the 24th July to the 9th September 2012, to coincide with the Olympics.

"The modern reality (of manufacturing) is much more exciting than people believe and the feedback from our existing See Inside Manufacturing initiative bears that out. I want that reality to inspire our young people to be our inventors, engineers and technicians of the future," said manufacturing minister Mark Prisk.

The deputy director of the Science Museum, Heather Mayfield, talked about the importance of making the exhibition appealing to children. "We wouldn't hold this exhibition if it wasn't going to be hands-on," she said.

WEEKLY DIGEST

Plenty of news this week concerning making in the UK:

Talent 2030: a campaign to encourage more young people, particularly girls, in to manufacturing and engineering (The Guardian)

Mary Portas to champion UK clothing manufacturing in new series (Make it British)

An interview with Deborah Meaden of Fox Brothers (Make it British)

Bentley receives government grant to increase research and development (egmCartech)

An interview with Mark Adams, owner of Vitsoe (The Telegraph)

Is the UK's nostalgia for manufacturing misguided? (Mindful Money)

Harveys wins best stout and porter in the world award (SIBA)

Photo of Bentley factory from Influx

WEEKLY DIGEST

A handful of news items on UK making from last week:

The government has launched the Make it in Great Britain campaign (Make it British)

On the same story, Vince Cable believes 'the UK still has outstanding manufacturing companies, large and small' (Public Service)

Lara Platman's photos of the making of Harris Tweed in the Outer Hebrides (BBC)

Photo by Lara Platman

WEEKLY DIGEST

Brewdog unveils plans for new £7m brewery in Aberdeenshire (The Grocer)

Listed industrial buildings 'more at risk' than other types of heritage (BBC)

The government's See Inside Manufacturing program sees children in Sunderland visiting Nissan and students in Woking visiting the McLaren factory (BIS)

Picture of Crossness Pumping Station in Bexley from the BBC

WEEKLY DIGEST

Manufacturing in the news this week:

What the economists have to say on the current state of UK manufacturing (Guardian)

The passion for UK manufacturing (BIS)

Photo by David Jones

WEEKLY DIGEST

The week's manufacturing, designing and making stories of note:

MPs of Britain this week revealed their favourite products made in the UK. Sadly the interactive map got some locations wrong

A short preview of Kenneth Grange's forthcoming retrospective at the Design Museum (opens 20th July)

Speaking of Grange, he tells RIBA Journal that he's working on a chair for use in residential homes and that he would love to work on bus design

Luxury car maker Bentley talks up apprenticeships

An interview with lingerie maker Ayten Gasson touches on her commitment to manufacture in Britain

And finally, there's a nice interview on Style Salvage with Becky French, the lady behind UK tie maker Marwood

Image of Grange on his Edith chair for Hitch Mylius from the company website

WEEKLY DIGEST

The week's stories on manufacturing, design and making:

Nice interview with Jonathan from Designed Made, a company that 'has a desire to support British manufacturers and utilise their knowledge and expertise'

Vince Cable calls for 'change of culture' as part of See Inside Manufacturing, a government scheme to encourage youngsters to consider a future in engineering

The Myth of the Decline of UK Manufacturing, according to Tim Worstall

Triumph motocycles plans India entry

British brewer calls for BBC to hail beer and not wine

WEEKLY DIGEST

The week's stories in manufacturing, making and design in the UK:

Dorset Brewing Company opens new brewhouse to meet demand

The Department of Business and Innovation (BIS) is planning an event during the 2012 Olympics to support British manufacturing

Production of new Minis to come from Oxfordshire factory

Bad news for Bombardier as it misses out on Thameslink project to Siemens

Fashion company N Brown is using a 'handful' of Midlands based suppliers

MIDLAND MANUFACTURING GROUP IN PLEA TO PM

Over the last few months M&I has had several conversations with people involved in UK manufacturing - from heads of trade bodies to factory owners to designers. Time and again the same issue arises; if the UK is to play a strong role in the global economy then more support is needed from the government.

'For small, medium and large enterprises, there has been little reform to boost manufacturing, training and growth in the UK since the General Election,' Ian Williamson of The Midland Manufacturing Group, told The Kenilworth Weekly News.

'There has also been a significant trend regarding the sale of our larger companies to overseas competitors. The UK is now reliant on them for ensuring the research and development of high-value, high-skill jobs remain in the UK.'

'If we lose our manufacturing base we are never going to get it back,' warned Williamson. 'The West Midlands is the heartland of our manufacturing and we need trading conditions to allow it to prosper.'

The Midland Manufacturing Group includes industrialists and professional bodies and is seeking to reverse the trend of job losses in the area. Members include Automotive Products in Leamington, and Arden Products, Clarke Clulley and Norgren Martiner in Kenilworth, as well as the region’s automotive industry.

Williamson also told The Kenilworth Weekly News that he is in talks about holding a debate on reform needed in Midlands manufacturing in early 2011 - we look forward to hearing more about this.

Illustration of Mini & 1100 engine from Austin Memories

JAMES DYSON: AN INDUSTRIALIST'S PLEA

Came across this in today's International Herald Tribune. Dyson has some pertinent points, the best of which are as follows:

'Getting rich by making things is sort of dirty. That view pervades our culture.'

(On how he was steered toward the classics and warned that if he did poorly in school he would end up in a factory.)

'It starts with the government, oddly... talking up and backing big engineering projects.'

(On how the UK can change deep-seated cultural views toward engineering and manufacturing.)