Each day The Manufacturer compiles the top manufacturing news stories from around the web. To make your life a little easier, we trawl through all the major trade publications, broadsheets and business magazines to find you the most important manufacturing news each morning. Don't forget to bookmark this page and check back daily.
EV pioneer calls on new transport secretary to stay the course
EV charging pioneer Virta today called on the new Transport Secretary to maintain the government’s drive for transition away from petrol and diesel vehicles.
Heidi Alexander has been appointed as the new Transport Secretary following the resignation of Louise Haigh last week. More via The Manufacturer
Government announces new Critical Minerals Strategy in 2025
Industry Minister Sarah Jones will confirm a new Critical Minerals Strategy will be published in 2025, in a speech to the Resourcing Tomorrow conference on Tuesday (3 December).
Speaking at Europe’s largest mining event, with over 100 companies from the global mining supply chain represented, Industry Minister Sarah Jones is expected to say:
“We need critical minerals for everything and we’ll need a lot more if we want a thriving car sector, a world-leading tech ecosystem, and secure renewable energy. More via The Manufacturer
MoD hit by major cyberattack
A security breach has hit the Ministry of Defence (MoD) as passwords belonging to nearly 600 employees were stolen and leaked onto the dark web.
The cyberattack, believed to have been perpetrated by Russian hackers, has exposed sensitive information of both military personnel, civilian staff and defence contractors. More via Computing
Apprentice Automation Challenge competition update
Following the competition’s 10th year anniversary event this September, the Institution is delighted to announce that the Apprentice Automation Challenge will be opening for registration by mid-December 2025 and we welcome all apprentice engineers to start forming a team to take part in the latest iteration of this exciting educational engineering event. More via IMechE
Major car manufacturer ‘on the brink of collapse’ as official claims company has ‘just 12 months to survive’
Car manufacturing giant Nissan could be on the brink of collapse with only 12 months to survive, it has been warned.
The Japanese auto firm which employs 7,000 people in the UK and 17,000 in the US has embarked on a huge cost-cutting programme after suffering heavy losses.
Nissan said last month it would axe 9,000 jobs and 20 per cent of its global manufacturing capacity, as it scrambles to reduce costs by $2.6billion (£2billion) in the current fiscal year. More via Mail Online
Chancellor’s tax hikes could spark ‘automation’ and ‘outsourcing’ rush in UK manufacturing
Additional tax measures announced in the recent Budget could help trigger a wave of spending in automation and outsourcing according to an industry expert.
Tony Hague, CEO of Cheslyn Hay-based PP Control & Automation (PP C&A), expects the £25billion annual rise in employers’ National Insurance Contributions (NICs) to test the resilience of manufacturing even further, with companies pivoting strategies to grapple with high operational expenses and widespread skills shortages. More via Express and Star
