Make UK Podcasts Make UK

The manufacturing industry’s views vary significantly on place-based economic incentives with many believing that these policies lead to winners and losers, with growth in one area coming at a cost to another.

There is a lot to be considered about place-based initiatives and whether the policies can ultimately offer long-term economic growth to the whole of the UK. These possibilities and challenges are discussed by RSM and Make UK in their new report called Manufacturing Growth: Building a Competitive Business Environment.

Listen to this podcast, presented by Jonty Bloom, and with Fhaheen Khan, Senior Economist for Make UK and Mike Thornton, Partner and Head of Manufacturing at RSM, for the third and final theme arising from their research, on place-based incentives.

The manufacturing industry thinks that regional and national infrastructure has got worse in the last decade and say a lack of good infrastructure is a barrier to accessing labour and skills – holding back key investment and growth for manufacturers.

The views come from a major report into the industry by RSM and Make UK called Manufacturing Growth: Building a Competitive Business Environment.

Listen to this podcast, presented by Jonty Bloom, and with Fhaheen Khan, Senior Economist for Make UK and Mike Thornton, Partner and Head of Manufacturing at RSM, for more about business’s views on infrastructure.

The manufacturing industry is calling for a major MOT of the business tax and regulatory system in the UK, which will boost investment in the UK. They want the Chancellor to overhaul the system in his forthcoming Autumn statement.

The call comes on the back of a major report into the industry by RSM and Make UK called Manufacturing Growth: Building a Competitive Business Environment.

Listen to this podcast, presented by Jonty Bloom, and with Fhaheen Khan, Senior Economist for Make UK and Rachel Milloy, Associate Director for RSM, for more about business’s views on the tax and regulatory system.

Andrew Ward, Make UK revealed £14bn annually is lost a year in industry from mental health issues affecting the workforce. Now 80% of HR directors say that wellbeing has shot up their importance ladder in terms of business priorities.

Alison Corner, HR Director, Enginuity – Mental health awareness and support has long been a growing priority for Enginuity but the pandemic has accelerated that. We have tailored our support and increased the offer as a direct result of the pandemic.  Presenteeism may once have been seen as a non-issue but is now being treated as a real problem that need to be addressed to make sure a workforce stays healthy, productive and well.

Rachel Newman, Head of People, Policy & Support RNLI – Mental health has long been a priority for the RNLI. Physical and mental health are very much seen as equal players within the organisation, with a dedicated occupational health team offering guidance and support. They have embedded greater support specifically focussing on the mental health aspect which has been accelerated since the pandemic. RNLI have reactive but also preventative support including the mental health first aid programme, recruiting, training and have a focus on developing their own mental health first aiders to be accessible to everyone throughout the organisation. The stigma is slowly being removed from mental health and talking about issues which is welcomed.   Your plan for wellbeing and mental health should be taken as seriously as any other part of your business.