Cairns calls on manufacturers to embrace entrepreneurship
WELSH Secretary Alun Cairns has called on Welsh manufacturers to maintain their competitive edge as Britain prepares to leave the European Union.
In a keynote speech at the annual dinner of EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, last night, Mr Cairns was expected to outline plans to address Wales’ low productivity rate through the UK-wide Industrial Strategy.
Wales’ 5,000-plus manufacturing companies – 97% of which are SMEs – employ around 150,000 people between them, but Wales is the least productive region in the UK with productivity only 80.5% of the UK average.
Mr Cairns said: “If we want to stimulate every part of our economy, then we need to create the right conditions for generating ideas and innovation – we need to foster entrepreneurship.
“Wales has the advantage of a strong innovation base – be that compound semi-conductors in Cardiff, agri-tech in Aberystwyth, or advanced manufacturing in Deeside.
“The UK Government will invest an additional £4.7bn by 2020-21 in research and development funding and create a new Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund to help the UK capitalise on its strengths in science and innovation in manufacturing.”
He added: “We know Wales has huge potential when it comes to trade and investment, as there are currently more than 3,800 businesses in Wales that export.
“I’d like to see businesses in Wales taking advantage of the world-class support on offer from the UK Government and Welsh Government so that Wales and the wider UK is the best place in the world to do business.”
Earlier in the day Mr Cairns announced an £800,000 UK Government-backed investment in Swansea University’s SPECIFIC Innovation and Knowledge Centre.
The funding, delivered by Innovate UK, will be used to construct the UK’s first energy positive office, capable of generating more energy than it uses.
Seven months on from the signing of the Swansea Bay Region City Deal, Mr Cairns urged partners to “push forward to delivery” so that the people of Swansea can start to “see the tangible benefits and investment being made”.
Mr Cairns said: “These are exciting times for the Swansea region – not only because [of] the dynamism of the projects that will be delivered through the City Deal, but also through the other investments that are being made in infrastructure that will stand the test of time.
“The UK Government is ambitious for Swansea. That is why we are empowering the area to make the decisions to support the city’s own economic growth, boost employment and attract investment.
“We need to seize the opportunities that are coming Swansea’s way. The potential the region has is immense but it is crucial that all levels of government, private and public sectors work together to drive it forward and make the region the powerhouse of innovation it deserves to be.”
SPECIFIC is led by Swansea University and works with more than 50 partners from academia, industry and government to deliver its vision for buildings as power stations.
Ruth McKernan, chief executive of Innovate UK, said: “Building the UK’s first office that creates more power than it uses is a significant step, and I’m proud that it is Innovate UK funding that is making it happen.
“This flagship demonstration of the ‘buildings as power stations’ concept will draw visitors from around the world and give us a glimpse of the future.”
Professor Richard Davies, vicechancellor of Swansea University, added: “It is exciting to see SPECIFIC’s innovative ‘buildings as power stations’ concept becoming a practical reality.
“As well as demonstrating what is now possible off the grid, the new building will share energy with the Active Classroom, showing how buildings can work together to create energy resilient communities.”