UK manufacturing now eighth largest in the world

The British manufacturing industry has leapfrogged France to become the eighth largest in the world, according to United Nations data collected by the EEF.

UK manufacturing is now worth £185bn a year, topped only by Germany and Italy among European nations. China remains number one, followed by the US and Japan.

Graeme Wright, CTO Energy & Utilities at Fujitsu UK & Ireland, responded to the news with the following industry comment.

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“This is fantastic news, which underlines the promising position the sector is in. Seeing that the UK has risen to become the eighth largest manufacturing industry in the world means one thing – now is the time to ramp up our support to manufacturers countrywide to secure the position of the UK as an international leader.

“Whilst these results are positive, it doesn’t stop there. The UK manufacturing sector needs to be savvy to the digital age we now live in and the impact of digital disruption. In a recent study of ours, 90% of manufacturers said they believe the sector will transform fundamentally by 2021. It is essential therefore for the manufacturing industry to embrace innovation and the new possibilities it offers in order to continue this growth.

“Over the coming months we expect to see new opportunities for manufacturers to adapt their business models, enhance their value, establish new services and move into the era of servitisation. The impact of digital is now inevitable, but it needs to be supported by a skilled workforce, the ability to scale and strong security in order to continue growth. Ultimately those that are agile and embrace the latest technology will reap the rewards in the years to come.”