Made Here Now relies on the support of the following organisations. Click on the logos for more information and their latest initiatives.
Trade organisation ADS Group represents more than 900 companies in the aerospace, defence, security and space sectors. Its members range from small concerns making tiny aerospace components to global contractors manufacturing parts for the UK’s two giant aircraft carriers, being built just north of Edinburgh. ADS also runs the Farnborough airshow.
Airbus – based in France – makes commercial and military aircraft as well as space satellites. Its 17,000 UK employees are responsible for the design and production of aircraft wings, as well as landing gear and fuel systems. The company has 400 UK suppliers. Its biggest UK plant is in Broughton, near Chester – Airbus’s main wing manufacturing centre.
Aston University in Birmingham has strong links with industry and its research in growth strategies has helped many small- to medium-sized businesses, particularly in manufacturing. Its academics have special expertise in fields such as industrial policy, car production and supply chains. The university has a partnership with Nissan, the Japanese car maker, to work on electric vehicles.
BAE Systems makes and services military equipment from aircraft to submarines and is one of the UK’s leading employers of engineers. It also has a growing business in specialised defence-related software fields such as cyber security. Worldwide it has 84,600 employees, just under half of them in the UK, where it operates from 50 sites and has 9,000 suppliers.
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is – with the Treasury – one of the main government departments for delivering economic growth. It invests in skills and education and helps people start businesses. BIS also protects consumers and tries to reduce the impact of regulation on businesses when this appears unnecessarily onerous.
Founded in 1900, Birmingham University has a leading reputation for promoting innovation in science-related disciplines. It was one of the first universities to incorporate a medical school, with a top alumnus being Sir Peter Medawar, a pioneer in work linked to organ transplants. The university is heavily involved in promoting interest among young people in science, engineering and maths.
Cambridge University’s Computer Laboratory is an academic department that encompasses computer science, along with many aspects of engineering, technology and mathematics. Its research has delivered breakthroughs such as the first programmable computer for general use in 1949, the first webcam and its tiny low-cost Raspberry Pi computer aimed at making computing more accessible.
The CBI is the UK’s biggest business lobby group and represents 190,000 companies of all sizes – from start-ups to those in the FTSE 100 – as well as trade associations and universities. Recent campaigns include ‘Pulling Together’ on the need to strengthen the UK’s manufacturing supply chains and its ‘First Steps’ report calling for an overhaul of the school system.
Civitas is a think-tank engaged in research on how to strengthen democracy, increase individual freedom and encourage business. It focuses on issues such as education, crime, the abuse of human rights laws and the European Union. The group has a particular interest in manufacturing and has produced several reports in this area, for instance looking at “reshoring” and energy policy.
Clyde Blowers is a Glasgow-based group that operates companies in engineering-related fields around the world by investing in the businesses and having a say in the management. Its chairman and chief executive is Jim McColl, one of Scotland’s best-known entrepreneurs, who started the company in its current role in 1992. A recent acquisition was Ferguson Shipbuilders, one of Scotland’s last shipyards.
Cranfield University has 3,000 students – all of whom are postgraduates – and has a strong reputation in engineering and manufacturing. Its School of Aerospace, Transport Systems and Manufacturing uses a multi-disciplinary approach to bring together design, technology and management expertise. It links fundamental research with manufacturing in fields including aviation, automotive, motorsport, marine and military equipment.
Make UK, the UK manufacturers’ organisation, provides business support services and training to businesses of all sizes across engineering, manufacturing, technology and the wider industrial sector. It has 5,000 direct members and represents 20,000 companies collectively through affiliate partners. It has offices throughout England and Wales as well as in Brussels.
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council is the UK’s main agency for funding research in engineering and physical sciences. It invests about £800m a year in research and postgraduate training to meet the next generation of technological change. Its research ranges from information technology and structural engineering to mathematics and materials science.
The ERA Foundation is a technology research and investment group working to bridge the gap between research and commercialisation in engineering. It gives charitable donations to trusts and professional bodies promoting UK engineering and supporting young engineers. It invests in start-up technology companies and promotes industry through prizes and lectures.
The US multinational General Electric is among the world’s biggest industrial groups, making products from jet engines to water purification systems. It has been operating in the UK since the 1930s and has 18,000 UK employees working in 60 sites and with expertise in areas linked to energy, healthcare, aerospace and financial services.
London-based IDJ is a provider of corporate finance and business advisory services. Founded in 1972, IDJ works with companies across the UK, North America and Europe and has experience in a range of markets, including technology, life sciences, education, travel and distribution. The services it offers include raising capital and advising on mergers and acquisitions.
The Institution for Engineering and Technology is a professional society for engineers and technicians, and accredits more than 1,000 undergraduate and postgraduate courses. It supports teachers and lecturers in schools and further education to help improve skills in science, engineering and maths. The institution has nearly 160,000 members in 127 countries, with offices around the world.
The Industry Forum is a consultancy providing services to manufacturers across many sectors in 30 countries. It has a team of 100 manufacturing and supply chain experts who specialise in fields from automotive to construction. Its clients include big companies such as Boeing and Electrolux as well smaller businesses. It is owned by the SMMT, the automotive trade association.
The Institute for Manufacturing is part of the University of Cambridge. It brings together expertise in management, technology and policy aimed at creating sustainable economic growth. In each of these areas, it carries out education and research, which it combines with practical application in industry. Its research includes inkjet and laser-based manufacturing process technologies, carbon nanomaterials and advanced information systems.
JCB is the world’s third largest construction equipment manufacturer by volume with 22 plants: 11 in the UK, five in India and others in the USA, Brazil and China. The company – owned by the family of Lord Bamford, its chairman – employs 12,000 people globally, of whom 6,500 are in the UK. It manufactures more than 300 different machines.
JLL is a services and investment management firm with clients owning, occupying and investing in real estate, including general industrial, manufacturing and distribution facilities. Worldwide it has more than 230 offices in 80 countries and 58,000 staff, 2,500 of whom are in the UK. It was formerly called Jones Lang LaSalle.
Celebrating its 250th anniversary this year, Lloyds Bank is among the UK’s oldest institutions. It has a team of managers focused on supporting production companies. The bank has set out to provide an extra £1bn a year of new lending to manufacturers until 2017. Lloyds is part of Lloyds Banking Group which includes Bank of Scotland.
Moley Robotics is developer of advanced robots that has teamed up with London-based Shadow Robot to develop a new generation of these devices for use in consumer applications.Moley is run by Mark Oleynik, a Russia-born computer engineer and entrepreneur. It has several partnerships with universities and companies working in artificial intelligence and novel manipulators.
The Manufacturing Technologies Association is a trade body for companies working in the engineering-based manufacturing sector. Many of its member companies are specialists in making and supplying machine tools and related equipment. The MTA assists its members in areas such as skills and marketing, and organises the biennial MACH exhibition focused on manufacturing technologies
Nesta is a leading UK charity promoting innovation. It provides investments and grants, and mobilises research, networks and skills in a range of fields. Its work is enabled by a £250m endowment from the National Lottery. Nesta has a special “ideas fund” that gives small grants to develop novel interesting research projects that could lead to innovations across technology, science and the arts.
New London Architecture is an independent forum focusing on architecture, planning, development and construction in the capital. It aims to bring together politicians, professionals and the public to improve the future of London through research, discussion and events such as exhibitions. NLA also honours the best architecture, planning and development in the city through a series of awards.
Oxford Economics is a global advisory firm, providing reports, forecasts and analytical tools on 200 countries, 100 industrial sectors and more than 3,000 cities. Headquartered in Oxford with offices in London and around the world, its global economic and industry models and analytical tools are used to forecast external market trends and assess their economic, social and business impact.
Pinsent Masons is an international law firm, headquartered in London with 18 offices across the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. It has a special interest in manufacturing and works with clients in a range of areas linked to legal expertise, including how to minimise risk when operating plants globally and reduce the complexity of supply chains.
Renishaw was started in 1973 by Sir David McMurtry, its chairman and chief executive, and is the world’s biggest maker of touch-trigger probes for measurement. The probes are widely used in the machine tool industry for making parts in sectors such as aerospace and automotive. Renishaw does most of its manufacturing in plants close to its headquarters in Gloucestershire.
Rolls-Royce is the world’s second biggest maker of aircraft engines and has been producing power systems for aircraft, ships and land applications for more than 100 years. It has customers in 150 countries and has an extensive network of links with universities around the world to work on key areas of engine technologies including new materials and computerised design.
The UK-based academy brings together top engineers from various sectors to promote engineering. It invites about 50 people a year to join its cadre of RAE “fellows”. It fosters education and skills through its grants and prizes. It believes Britain needs another 1.25m engineering, science and technology professionals by 2020 if it is to make the most of economic opportunities.
The Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 was established in 1850 by Queen Victoria to stage the first world trade fair: The Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations. Since then the commission has invested the profits of this landmark event in London. It awards grants and fellowships worth £2m a year to support science and industry.
The Royal Society is the UK’s academy of science. It is a fellowship of many of the world’s top scientists drawn from most areas of science, engineering, and medicine. Its efforts to raise the profile of science include the appointment of the particle physicist and TV star Prof Brian Cox as its first professor for public engagement in science at Manchester University.
Munich-based Siemens is one of the world’s biggest engineering companies with 343,000 employees globally and operations in fields from trains to medical equipment. It has a strong presence in Britain, where it has 13 manufacturing sites and employs almost 14,000 people. Last year it announced plans to build a big factory in Hull to make wind turbines.
Spirax-Sarco Engineering is the world’s biggest maker of steam control equipment – used in a range of industries from healthcare to chemicals. The company is based in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, where it has a big factory with others around the world including in the US, China, Brazil and Italy. It has its own engineering team for making specialist manufacturing machines.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders promotes the interests of the UK automotive sector in legislation, regulation and trade issues around the world. Founded in 1902, originally to run motor shows, the SMMT represents more than 600 organisations in an industry that has grown to account for 10 per cent of the UK’s total exports.
Tata Steel is Britain’s biggest steel maker and the second biggest in Europe, after ArcelorMittal. Owned by the Indian industrial group Tata, Tata Steel operates large plants in India, the Netherlands, Singapore, Thailand as well as the UK – where it employs 17,500 people mainly in steel mills in Port Talbot, Scunthorpe and around Rotherham.
UK Export Finance is the UK government’s export credit agency. It aims to work closely with manufacturers and other businesses to help them to expand internationally, for instance, by enabling them to gain access to credit insurance, working capital loans and contract bonds. It cooperates with private sector groups including banks, brokers and other financial intermediaries.
Unipart Group provides manufacturing, logistics and consultancy services. One of its divisions makes vehicle components while the Unipart Way, a business system that grew out of the company’s experience of “lean” manufacturing, forms the basis of its work in consultancy. In this area, Unipart has worked with manufacturing companies such as Jaguar Land Rover and also has expertise in healthcare.
The University of Nottingham’s Institute for Advanced Manufacturing is a leading academic research centre with expertise in fields including 3D printing, food science and technology and novel machining systems such as using water jets to make complex metal parts. With government agencies and companies, the university is investing £100m in manufacturing research and training over the next 10 years.
Versarien is an advanced materials manufacturer that was started in 2010 and is listed on the Aim stock exchange for growing companies. Its subsidiaries include 2-DTech, a business spun out of Manchester University that is one of a handful of UK companies attempting to commercialise graphene. Other businesses make tungsten carbide for tooling and specialised aluminium components.
Walter Scott is an Edinburgh-based fund manager that is part of BNY Mellon, a big US financial services company. The Edinburgh group was founded in 1983 by Walter Scott, a nuclear physicist who formerly worked at the Ivory & Sime investment business. Walter Scott manages funds for clients around the world and has a particular interest in manufacturing and engineering.
WMG, an academic department of the University of Warwick, was founded by Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya in 1980 to help reinvigorate UK manufacturing. It works with businesses around the world to develop innovative technologies to improve competitiveness. More than 500 people work at the group’s headquarters near Coventry and in other centres in seven countries.
The Weir Group is one of the UK’s top engineering companies. Founded in 1871 and based in Glasgow, it makes pumps and related equipment for use in the mining and energy industries. It has special expertise in pumps for hydraulic fracturing or fracking, a process used for extracting shale-based oil and gas.
Yamazaki Mazak is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of machine tools, with plants in Japan, the US, Singapore and China, as well as having a large factory in Worcester, UK. The company was started in Nagoya by Sadakichi Yamazaki in 1919 as a maker of machines for weaving straw mats, and remains owned by the Yamazaki family.
One supporter is a prominent UK business person who is a strong advocate of the UK building up its manufacturing base. This person has requested not to be identified.
