On Thursday, February 1st, the House of Lords debated the necessity of implementing a comprehensive Industrial Strategy for the UK. The debate provided an opportunity for members to utilise their expertise in addressing pressing issues and bringing the government's attention to particular concerns.
Any strategic support of manufacturing must resist any quick-fix approach and instead focus on a long-term pipeline. We need a planned industrial strategy and, to be effective, it must address the acute shortage of engineering skills. Professor Lord Robert Mair, Founding Head of CSIC.
Lord Watson of Wyre Forest, a former deputy leader of the Labour party, introduced the debate, which centred on vital themes such as government funding, the need for an industrial strategy and the significant shortage of engineering skills within the United Kingdom. Lord Robert Mair began by highlighting two key points. His first point revolved around the recent government announcement of £4.5 billion in funding for manufacturing, encompassing key sectors such as automotive, aerospace, life sciences and clean energy. While welcoming the funding, Lord Mair raised a concern about the need for the UK to have a robust strategy for industry with continuity of financial support. The government's decision to allocate funds only from 2025 for a period of five years, in his view, fell short of constituting a comprehensive industrial strategy. Drawing attention to the wisdom of other major economies like Germany, China and the United States, Lord Mair echoed the views of other members of the Lords regarding the necessity for a long-term national manufacturing plan. He stressed that a proper industrial strategy demanded commitment beyond short political cycles, advocating for stable pipelines and durable institutions to support the UK's research and innovation system effectively.
Lord Mair's second point delved into the critical issue of the national shortage of engineering skills. With a personal declaration of interest as an engineer, he drew attention to the Royal Academy of Engineering's report, "Engineering Economy and Place," highlighting the sector's substantial contribution to the UK economy. He nevertheless underscored a pressing concern - a shortage of engineering skills despite 70% of the eight million people working in the engineering economy being engineers. Citing a report from the Institution of Engineering and Technology, Lord Mair outlined an estimated shortfall of over 173,000 workers in the STEM sector. Urgency marked his plea to the government to embed the teaching of engineering into the school curriculum, a call consistent with the findings of the recent inquiry of the House of Lords Committee on Education for 11- to 16-year-olds.
In conclusion, Lord Mair advocated a strategic approach to manufacturing support that resisted quick fixes and instead prioritised a long-term pipeline. He stressed the need for a planned industrial strategy, intertwined with a concerted effort to address the acute shortage of engineering skills.
Watch the debate here (Lord Mair’s speech is at 5.24 pm).
Read the Hansard transcripts of the debate here.