On Monday 2 March I attended a reception for UK manufacturers in London. Following on from the our recent manufacturing event at NUAST, this was an ideal opportunity to raise the profile of manufacturing in the UK and our strength in the regions.
As Manufacturing Interest Group Chair for Nottingham Means Business and Chairman of the Nottingham Manufacturing Network, I was there to represent Nottingham in addition to my own business, SMS Electronics.
George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, welcomed representatives from our sector to 11 Downing Street to discuss how Parliament is currently supporting manufacturing and how it intends to do so in the future.
L-R: Clive Harris (Silver Birches), Anna Soubry MP, Mark Goldby (SMS Electronics) and George Osborne MP.
I was able to discuss with George Osborne the current state of manufacturing in the UK and in particular what’s happening in Nottingham. I explained the challenges we face in our sector, but acknowledged the positive support received from Government.
Nottingham was well represented with both Anna Soubry MP for Broxtowe and Mark Spencer MP for Sherwood, in attendance. They brought with them local representatives from their areas.
I felt the occasion was an ideal networking opportunity for manufacturers around the UK and was very glad to be a part of it.