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.
Metals sector optimistic despite market challenges
Rising energy prices, the impact of life after the EU and labour shortages continue to be the main challenges facing the UK metals sector according to a new report due to be launched next week.
Nearly a quarter of firms in the UK Metals Council’s State of the Metals Industry in the UK 2023/24 survey admitted to adjusting supply chain strategies or sourcing alternatives, while just under a third want enhanced government support to navigate trade barriers and custom procedures in the wake of Brexit. Find out more at The Manufacturer
Stellantis transforms Ellesmere Port into UK’s first EV-only manufacturing plant
Stellantis has relaunched its Ellesmere Port plant into the UK’s first manufacturing plant dedicated solely to battery electric vehicles (BEVs) – and the first BEV-only plant globally for the Stellantis group.
Officially reopened today (7 September 2023) following a £100m (€117.6m) investment, the regenerated site now will produce a number of small electric vans and the passenger car variants for Stellantis’ various brands. Find out more at Fleet World
Apprentices showcase UK manufacturing industry at European Finals
Apprentices from across the UK are headed to Poland this week to represent the UK manufacturing industry at the EuroSkills Finals in Gdańsk, Poland.
Taking place from 6 – 9 September, EuroSkills is the largest skills competition in Europe attracting over 100, 000 visitors.
The apprentices were selected to join Team UK by WorldSkills UK following their success in the UK-wide competitions. Find out more at The Manufacturer
UKBIC appoints new managing director
The UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC), the national battery manufacturing scale-up facility, has appointed Sean Gilgunn as its new managing director.
Mr Gilgunn, who will take up the post at the Coventry-based £130m facility in October, joins UKBIC from Johnson Matthey where he has worked across various business areas, most recently as global procurement director, strategy and operations. Find out more at Production Engineering Solutions
Four in 10 manufacturing SMEs think global conditions are worse than during the pandemic
The latest research from Bibby Financial Services (BFS) reveals that small and medium sized (SME) manufacturing businesses across the globe are being significantly impacted by current economic conditions. Find out more at The Manufacturer
Automotive Council announces new industry leadership
The Automotive Council has today announced the appointment of two industry heavyweights to spur innovation, competitiveness and growth in the UK’s critical automotive sector. Adrian Hallmark, Chairman and CEO, Bentley Motors, is appointed Industry co-Chair, while Arun Srinivasan, Head of Bosch Mobility in the UK, takes on the role of Industry Deputy co-Chair of the industry-government partnership. Find out more at SMMT
