I've being hoping for a long time now that the manufacturing industry in the UK would grow. It seems proffessions such as toolmakers and engineers are becoming few and far between.
At one time the UK was a huge manufacturing centre. These days the Government seem to help the banking and financial industries rather than wanting to produce things. Eventually we will become a nation of shops and banks. You may think that this is ok, however, if all we do is buy things we will eventually the nation will run out of money. We are very lucky we still have North Sea Oil. Without this we would be in very deep trouble.
Our Governments of recent years have completely ignored the fact that the precision engineering, press work, and general manufacturing companies of this country have provided jobs for generations of people.
How long is the Government going to let great UK manufacturing companies go out of business. We have lost so much manufacturing and engineering work to countries such as India and China. China were one of the only countries who sustained growth through the last recession which the UK are struggling to get out of. How ridiculous is that? We are supposed to be a world power. When we have some of our biggest engineering companies losing work to foreign countries it's no wonder we are in the middle of the biggest recession in history.
It has got to the point where Indian companies are buying us out. Chorus steel for one, Jaguar, Land Rover, M G Rover. To be fair to TATA who own Chorus, Jaguar and Land Rover. They give work to British toolmakers and presswork companies. Back in the 90's all Rover wanted to do was send their business abroad. It's no wonder they went bankrupt. Nobody wants to buy cheaply made poor quality cars.
I would love to know what other people think about this matter. Please leave your comments. We need manufacturing back where it belongs.
I think that politicians realise that manufacture and trade has to be the backbone of any economy that doesn't have vast resources to exploit, there is evidence that on the ground things are changing .
ReplyDeletewhere have they gone you ask?......Canada, Australia, and pretty much other "Engineering" industries. 5 or 6 years ago the Toolmaker was remarked as being one of the dying trades along with the Diesel Fitter. Our very societies exist on local economics (local companies that make stuff and employ half the town in doing so), and the lad that makes it all possible after the entrapenure is the toolmaker. The skill set will return, it has to. Communities rely on the skills and the level of intuition of the toolmaker's mind.
ReplyDeleteThey are still out there most have left the trade to obtain better pay in less skilled jobs with less responsibility The skill and knowledge was second to none toolmakeing was the pinnacle of engineering excellence now its the lowest paid trade There must be 10 toolmakers for every job advertised Many with 30 or more years experience I know at lest 40 to 50 that have moved to other jobs I know i am one
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