BFC attacks £150m Advanced Manufacturing Strategy and calls for support for traditional suppliers

5th August 2009 | manufacturing | The British Furniture Confederation has criticised the Government’s plan to support advanced manufacturing to the tune of £150m, saying it should set aside cash for traditional manufacturing companies.

‘Britain makes the best furniture in the world,’ said Martin Jourdan, BFC chairman. ‘We need Government to spread that message and provide the opportunities to develop skills and international competitiveness.”

He described the £150m advanced manufacturing strategy as the Government ‘putting all its eggs in one basket,’ and said we needed a traditional manufacturing strategy too.

The Advanced Manufacturing Strategy, unveiled by business secretary Lord Mandelson last week, will provide funding for high value manufacturing sectors, including the aerospace industry and low carbon businesses.

Announcing the plan, Lord Mandelson said, ‘There’s no denying British manufacturing has changed dramatically over the last 30 years – and it’s been difficult change, often involving painful and difficult adjustments for companies and their workforce. But what has emerged from that transformation is a world-leading 21st century manufacturing base in Britain.

We still have the residual image, or some people do, of 30 years ago: of smokestacks and factory gates. But manufacturing is not a muscle job anymore – unless you want to categorise the brain as a muscle. It is right smack at the centre of our knowledge economy – with high skilled jobs and representing 75% of British business R&D.’

He added, ‘Our future is in advanced manufacturing because that is where our competitive advantage lies.’