Manufacturing marque-up
Ed Miliband took to the stage at the EEF Manufacturing Conference this week to tell the audience that we should be proud of what we make in Britain if we want manufacturing to aid the economic recovery as best it can.
The Labour leader said: ‘The CEO of Stoves said something that stuck with me. There are three words we don’t hear enough, or see enough. Those words are “Made in Britain”.
‘We can’t recognise or celebrate our strength in manufacturing unless we know what is designed, invented and made here.
‘It is about building the brand of British manufacturing around the world, and supporting our exporters, particularly to new markets in the BRICs [Brazil, Russia, India and China].’
His calls for patriotism and pride in British products were widely reported by the national press but there hasn’t been much opinion published on how much difference it would make if we bragged about British products.
Miliband called for a ‘Made in Britain’ marque, such as the one designed last year by British kitchen company, Stoves, to be applied to all British products as a way of showing how proud we are of them.
A quick scout around my desk, which I admit is biased in favour of electronics from the Far East, and I can’t find one thing with ‘Made in Britain’ written on it. But that isn’t to say that we don’t make anything here. Because we do.
The 2.5 million people working in the UK’s manufacturing sector help make it the world’s ninth largest manufacturer and generate 10 per cent of GVA [Gross Value Added] to the economy.
But how much difference is a logo going to make? Most things already clearly depict where they are made, be it on the label of a Barbour jacket or the engine of a McLaren MP4-12C. However, while a label states where something is made, a logo champions where it is made. It’s information versus marketing, and that’s an important difference.
Here at The Engineer, we believe there may be some issues with determining what is British and what isn’t. Companies that we consider to be British through and through, such as Dyson, manufacture their products overseas although they are designed and developed here. Other iconic British marques which are made — or at least assembled — here, such as the Mini and Rolls-Royce cars, are no longer owned by British companies. Does that mean their products shouldn’t wear the marque even though they were designed and engineered here in Britain?
In addition, there are many higly influential Brits working for companies abroad who could also boost Britain’s image. For example, if you’re reading this on an Apple device then you have British design in front of your very eyes because Jonathan Ives, Apple’s chief designer, is in fact a Londoner who chose to look beyond his borders.
As Miliband rightly pointed out in his speech, companies also need to look beyond their borders and increase their exports.
So would a ‘Made in Britain’ marque help build our brand as a manufacturing nation in the minds of consumers overseas? Or would they see it as a form of marketing being rammed down their throats?
Personally, I think such a marque would be better received and have a greater impact in Britain.
I believe that any increase in exports is likely to be the product of increased British enthusiasm for engineering and manufacturing. The subsequent boost to the industry would, ideally, lead to more young people being attracted to the sector, and hence the development of innovative new technology that is desired around the globe.
If manufacturing is the key to economic growth then the next generation need to be inspired by it. Celebrating everything we make with a simple logo is a great place to start, but with today’s complicated and globalised ownership, design and production patterns, deciding where to put it might be a complex matter.
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Readers' comments (15)
I think its essentially simple. A rule that we all work by. If you're not willing to clearly put your name to something then you give other less reason to trust it. The Americans seem to have got this point with their Made in USA or even (please note) Proudly made in USA
Great idea. Works for Germany and removes the "Made in England, Scotland Wales" etc - which causes confusion on the international markets. Also helps instil pride in the workers who are making goods for the success of our country! One suggestion however: Made in GREAT Britain
wouldn't it make more sense to have a logo 'made in europe' ? We all have more or less the same problems : how do we make young people choose for technologie ? how do we compete with asia, and so on.
Lets join our forces in the european room, nationalistic views are small minded in a globalising world.
btw as a sports car enthusiast i drive a Lotus, designed by a belgian, built in the uk by a company owned by malaysians, with a japanese engine, french bodywork....
A throughly British sportscar indeed !
Definitely YES.
I always buy British made cars and believe that I am buying British jobs. Also it makes ecosense to buy stuff made locally if possible but how many people even think about that? When the government recently ordered Siemens trains there was a heartfelt complaint on Radio 4 about not buying British from someone whose job was consequently under threat but I had to wonder if they always tried to buy british. Why should the government buy British if th evoters don't? I believe that we need a logo and a publicity campaign to try to get us to think like most other Europeans and support our national jobs. If we don't buy British then why should foreigners?
I think this article falls in to the trap of only, or at least mainly considering 'consumer goods' and I include a product such as a ‘Roller’ in that list too. Real wealth (and with it a ‘real’ manufacturing economy) comes from having a large Capital Goods manufacturing base: machine tools (Italy produces far more than the UK), Tunneling boring (Crossrail’s are from Germany I gather) and other earth moving/construction machinery are just two example categories. Ok the UK has JCB and very good they are too, but other countries have far bigger and more varied manufactures of these types of products. For far too long UK engineering and manufacturing has allowed the consumer sector (and with it product design (Apple/Dyson) branding, marketing of the fluffy type) to take the lime light in discussion over manufacturing. An analysis of the Capital Goods sector (satellites to pipelines) by the Engineer would be really useful in this respect.
We may have many hidden capital goods manufactures and it would be worth the Engineer naming them, but by their nature a Brand or marque will only make a small difference for that kind of organisation. In the gray area between consumer and capital goods e.g. car engines yes the UK does produce a lot via Ford and BMW but the message that sends is that we have to rely on overseas companies to organise the finance/ capital for ‘UK’ manufacturing, so really a marque would just be an embarrassment. All of this shows that MIlliband has as much to offer and the Lib-Cons – very little of substance.
As a Sales Director for a German manufacturer I travel the world regularly promoting and selling our products. One thing that constantly amazes me is the brand that we have built but seem to have forgotten about. Everywhere I travel the most common design I see (OK Macdonalds and Coke a given) is the Union Jack! T shirts, bags, flags, mugs. The brand is built, people would by British lets give them the products.. We need in the UK innovation centres around the country where engineers, designers can find resources, skills and finance. We need to learn also that failure is not bad just part of learning. We then need to tap into a brand led by the Union Jack and called "Made in Great Britain". The hard work is done. No other country has this.
I liken the focus on manufacturing as a drunk sobering up! The UK has drunk from the overflowing cup of the financial sector for so long then finding out someone has turned the tap off, now the UK is looking for another source of real income to pay its bills. My own employer has recently doubled its' manufacturing capacity, the fruits of which was the ability to fulfil a large order from the USA, not acheivable before. And, yes, we do proudly mark every UK sourced product as "Made in the UK". Since we did this 3 years ago there has been a significant increase in demand for these products. The private sector is doing its bit, but until the politicians put manufacturing above public services then a slow growth is the best we can hope for.
Some relevant facts for the purchase of a product: quality, solving the problem, durability, costs. An irrelevant fact: "made in...". Does not make it competitive
"Made in Britain" is the right wording.
60 years ago everything was "Made In England", but Wales, Scotland and N. Ireland also manufacture good products.
The government should give a tax break to new companies starting out in the manufacturing business.
Made in Britain Reply:
Oh dear! I think it's too little too late. Our manufacturing went into decline many years ago.
The current needs of this country is to lower unemployment:
To create more jobs:
1. You need to manufacture 'new products' efficiently, and be first to market.
2. Be able to compete successfully with the rest of the World in the manufacture of current products.
Sadly we are not doing this well. Only a hand full of British companies ie Rolls Royce Aero being one, are able.
New products are the way forward and inventors can make a big contribution in kick starting the economy.
One company who are seeking new products are Gripple of Sheffield. Themselve's have innovative products and are currently visiting inventor groups seeking new products.
We also need the Employment Minister to send a directive to all UK manufacturers, a simple questioner.
Are they willing to expand and grow with new products that are within their field?
A data-base is then compiled, of relevant companies.
There should be a 'think tank' were the inventor can go and discuss the idea/invention with an official, who has the power to contact relevant companies and describe the product in confidence.
If the new product is viable then funding should come from the government for proof of concept and IP.
The rest of the plan can now be implemented leading up to production.
The inventor is given a 'just' % in royalties and IP rights, and needs no more involvement and can then carry on with the next idea.
Made in Britain?
Denis Bridges