DTI Manufacturing Gateway

Support for manufacturing

Since the launch of the Government's manufacturing strategy in 2002, government has:

› Provided strong macroeconomic stability - low inflation, low interest rates, low unemployment - allowing the UK to weather global economic slowdown better than in the past

› Supported investment through changes to corporation tax, capital gains tax, Regional Selective Assistance, Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme and Regional Venture Capital Funds

› Launched the Manufacturing Advisory Service to ensure that manufacturers in every region have local access to practical advice from manufacturing experts

› Strengthened UK's world class science base with the largest sustained increase in the Science Budget for over a decade, and enhanced knowledge transfer, so that manufacturers can capitalise upon the innovations it produces. Implementing innovative agenda

› Extended the R&D Tax Credit to all companies, overwhelmingly benefiting manufacturers

› Put in place Sector Skills Councils to lead the drive to significantly improved skills in industry, and strengthened the Modern Apprenticeship network

› Extended the Industry Forum best practice programme to new sectors - printing, process industries, general engineering, metals and food processing - increasing the reach of lean-manufacturing and world-class practices

› Set up Innovation and Growth Teams across key industries (including the automotive, aerospace, biosciences, and electronics sectors) to examine the factors affecting specific sectors, identify the challenges, and take action to respond to these challenges.