Government aims for a million 'green jobs' by 2030
Mon 08 September 2008
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The Government's new strategy for manufacturing sets out a vision for a globally competitive sector which consolidates on areas of existing comparative advantage and specialises in high technology processes. It aims for the UK to lead the World in manufacturing solutions for a low carbon economy and aims for at least a million jobs in the 'green economy' by 2030.
The Government's report - "Manufacturing: New Challenges, New Opportunities" - says that the UK is already a net exporter of environmental goods and services, and is a sector which already generates annual revenues of £25 billion. It says that this could rise to over £45 billion by 2015 and create up to one million jobs by 2030.
The report singles out the automotive sector as is a pivotal part of UK manufacturing: it says that low carbon vehicle technology is a key market opportunity for UK manufacturers.
Based on consultation with key stakeholders, the report identifies five major dynamics that are reshaping global manufacturing:
- The increasing prevalence and complexity of global value chains, underpinned by developments in information and communication technology and consequent fragmentation of processes, encouraging specialisation;
- The accelerated pace of technology exploitation as the pace and demand for change in implementation as increased;
- The growing importance of investment in intangibles such as design, branding and R&D;
- The increased recognition that investment in people and skills is among the most important for companies to make;
- The move to a low carbon economy as the response to climate change creates both new challenges and opportunities for manufacturing firms.
As part of its manufacturing strategy, the Government is supporting a new pilot programme for electric cars, including plug-in hybrids . The Government says it will develop a programme, working with industry, the Energy Technologies Institute and the UK Centre of Excellence for low carbon and fuel cell technologies (CENEX), that it hopes will explore the role of electric cars in a sustainable transport system in a real-world demonstration.
The Society of Motor Manufactures and Traders (SMMT) said: “The motor industry welcomes this latest initiative and hopes that government is swift in converting its words into action, to raise the image of manufacturing and safeguard the future of the sector.”
It continued: "The SMMT is actively involved in most of the areas covered by the new framework announced, engaging with organisations such as the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership, accessing global trading markets through its International team and enabling component suppliers to link up with buyers across the major markets using its automotive supplier finder service."
The Government's latest strategy replaces an earlier manufacturing strategy document which was published in 2002.
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