By Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer, via Wikimedia Commons.
Old-fashioned manufacturing
Although the recent YouGov/EEF poll yielded positive results for manufacturing, some public opinion is outdated.
Many British companies are making or pursuing avenues for investment in additive manufacturing research and development at present, as the economy makes its slow but upwardly-turning return to good health.
The results of a new poll by YouGov and EEF, the manufacturers' organisation, will help bolster industry decision-makers' confidence in this advanced technology, as it indicates strong support from the public for manufacturing in the UK.
According to the poll of more than 2,000 British adults, 91 per cent agree that manufacturing is essential for the UK's economic growth, with nearly three-quarters (72 per cent) saying they would prefer to buy goods made in Britain.
This report shows that the vast majority of British adults believe support for manufacturing is key for a healthy economy and also found that there is a strong attachment to the industry, with 76 per cent saying they would be proud to work for a British manufacturing company.
Chief Executive of EEF Terry Scuoler said: "This poll highlights the immense importance that the public attaches to manufacturing and its place at the heart of the economy. Long gone are the days when some believed we could get by as a service economy and leave the rest of the world to produce goods for us. It is now essential that policymakers also recognise manufacturing as a high value, high skill sector and support it with policies which encourage its growth."
However, there is still work to be done, with the poll also indicating a lack of awareness amongst UK adults of the true health of the industry, with 74 per cent believing the country used to manufacture more goods 30 years ago than it does now. In reality, the UK's manufacturing output is 25 per cent higher than in 1982.
Moreover, there were mixed opinions as to whether manufacturing is on the increase and whether the UK is among the top ten manufacturing countries on the planet.
This report comes on the back of a major survey on re-shoring published by EEF which indicates the number of manufacturers backing Britain as a place for manufacturing is increasing, with one in six having returned their manufacturing operations to the UK.
