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.
More UK motorists go green but grey is still the colour of choice – SMMT
Britain’s drivers cemented their preference for monochrome cars as grey topped the new car colour chart for the sixth year in a row, according to the latest figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
Boasting a market share of more than a quarter (26.8%), more than half a million (509,194) grey cars were registered in 2023, with volumes rising 22.6% as the new car market enjoyed its best year since the pandemic. More via The Manufacturer
UK businesses to benefit from £190 to help net zero transition
A multi-million-pound package will help businesses across the UK to cut their emissions and energy bills.
Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance Lord Callanan today (Monday 22 January) announced 12 winners from the Local Industrial Decarbonisation Plan competition, who will each benefit from a share of up to £6m to develop plans for a low carbon future.
He also shared plans to open a new phase of the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund later this month for a further £185m, which will help companies transform their operations to run on cleaner, more secure energy – backing measures such as replacing inefficient equipment, installing electric furnaces and switching to hydrogen. More via GOV UK
Tata Steel’s blast furnace closures: Who saw it coming? And is UK steelmaking in ‘managed decline’?
Tata Steel has announced that it will close blast furnaces at Port Talbot steelworks, putting nearly 3,000 jobs at risk.
The Manufacturer’s Tom St John digs deeper into how we’ve arrived at the UK risking becoming the only major economy unable to make steel from scratch. More via The Manufacturer
Bentley Motors awarded top employer status
Bentley Motors has achieved recognition as a UK Top Employer by the internationally-acclaimed Top Employers Institute. Bentley is the sole UK car manufacturer to be included in the celebrated list and this year marks the 13th consecutive year Bentley has been included.
The luxury marque’s approach to employee wellbeing, values, ethics and integrity was commended by the Institute, alongside Bentley’s focus on sustainability, digitalisation and diversity and inclusion. More via Bentley Motors
DragonFire laser achieves another UK first
The DragonFire laser directed energy weapon (LDEW) system has achieved the UK’s first high-power firing of a laser weapon against aerial targets during a trial at the MOD Hebrides Range.
The latest trial, delivered by Dstl and the DragonFire partners – MBDA, Leonardo and QinetiQ – builds on a series of highly successful trials, including the first static high-power laser firing of a sovereign UK capability and demonstration of the DragonFire system’s ability to track moving air and sea targets with very high accuracy at long range. More via Leonardo
How Stone Marine Shipcare boosted turnover 200% in four years
Stone Marine Shipcare in Wirral has been manufacturing and servicing propellers since Victorian times but a change in strategy in the last four years has seen it grow turnover by 200%. More via Liverpool Business News
MOD confirms new cruise missile to enter service in 2028
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed the service entry for the maritime-launched Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon to be 2028. The information came to light in response to Labour’s defence spokesman John Healey MP. More via UK Defence Journal
The Engineering Trust Annual Awards are back for 2024
The Engineering Trust Annual Awards are back again to recognise, celebrate and promote excellence among apprentices, mentors and employers.
The awards shine a light on the achievements of apprentices and applaud the unwavering support from mentors and employers. More via The Manufacturer
