22.02.2021

By any measure 2020 was a challenging one for the UK economy, with the experience of the manufacturing sector no exception. The pandemic and its impact on our people arrived in what was already a challenging external environment, with companies preparing for a very different trading relationship with our biggest export market, the European Union (EU).

#Budget2021 is an opportunity not just to tackle an immediate crisis but to put in place foundations for the future.

• A future that puts UK manufacturing front and centre of a renewed industrial base in the UK.
• A future that will support UK manufacturers to create high-quality jobs.
• And a future that allows manufacturers to build a digital yet sustainable future for generations to come. 

It is no exaggeration to say that action to support the manufacturing sector through the pandemic and to make changes needed for the future has never been more urgent. This is before we even fully adapt to the structural changes that will be caused by the changing nature of our trade with the EU. The sector will of course play a key role in assuring its future, as it has many times before. But, at this moment, Government support is also necessary for our sector to survive, and thrive in the short, medium and long term.

Download and read our full budget asks here.