NAA Update: Industrial Strategy has automotive at its heart
Let’s begin with some good news following the publication of the long-awaited Industrial Strategy last month – one with automotive at its heart – it’s the policy framework the sector has long-fought for and government has now addressed.
Such a strategy – long-term, cross-Government and aligned to a trade strategy is the basis on which the UK automotive sector can regain its global competitiveness. The strategy begins to address some of the challenges our sector – like so many others – faces, including energy, infrastructure skills and access to finance and brings together some of the measures Government is taking to support the industry, underscores the importance with which Government holds our sector.
The latest vehicle production figures issued last month show just how tough the environment is, with output down for a fifth consecutive month in May. Model changeovers, restructuring and the impact of US tariff uncertainty on shipments across the Atlantic – down more than half in May – were chiefly responsible. It was critical, therefore, to have the UK-US trade deal signed and implemented, given its importance as a market for our world-class small volume, high value manufacturers.
It was also timely that last month also saw the Publication of the latest SMMT report Competitive-Edge-Driving-Long-Term-UK-Automotive-Growth.pdf , which features SMMT’s first UK Automotive Business Leaders Barometer, which sets out that there is the potential for us to provide an additional £50 billion economic windfall, delivering the UK’s net zero ambitions, while returning the UK to the top 15 of global auto manufacturing locations for the first time since 2018.
Elsewhere, given the ongoing challenges with skills shortages, it is really encouraging to see graduate engineering from NAA members Bentley and JLR working together to launch an inaugural Automotive Early Careers Ball to encourage networking across our future leadership talent pipeline. I would urge you to support this and further details can be found here
Moving on to the membership side, we welcome three new members this month:
IN4 Group – an award-winning technology group, driving prosperity for businesses and communities. The Group operates several brands including Skills City, one of the country’s largest digital skills operations; Gametech which encompasses esports, Unity and Unreal Engine; CyberFirst North West and West Midlands; and HOST, the Home of Skills & Technology, one of the North West’s most established innovation hubs, based at MediaCity, Salford.
LIFT Insurance – a general insurance broker, an Appointed Representative of LIFT-Financial Group who are financial planners and owed by Brooks Macdonald.
Nexperia – a global semiconductor company focused on MOSFETs, diodes, and logic ICs, with a Manchester site specializing in Power MOSFET fabrication.
Finally, if you have not already entered the NAA business awards, you have until midnight on 18 July to apply. The Northern Automotive Alliance Business Awards provide automotive companies with the recognition for their achievements. Becoming a shortlisted award applicant, will provide your organisation with the opportunity to be recognised at this high-profile event, as a leading player in the automotive industry. Your organisation will benefit from being highlighted on the evening in front of key individuals from the region’s automotive community and leaders of the automotive community from across the UK and in subsequent nationwide PR about the event and the awards. Full details can be found here.
Paul Jones
NAA CEO
