The Focus On Britain Must Not Be Lost

Online, March 2, 2011 (Newswire.com) - The Trade White Paper, sets out a variety of measurements to stimulate growth in trade. Amongst these actions BIS plans to:
• Increase UK Trade and Investment's focus on emerging markets
• Lobby European partners to radically improve the regulatory environment in the Single Market for SMEs
• Improve and expand the trade finance and insurance products it offers.

These actions aim to rescue the British economy by taking action to not only boost trade within Britain, but internationally as well.

Terry Watts, CEO of Proskills, the Sector Skills Council for the Process and Manufacturing Sector commented, "It is good to see these strategies from BIS as they show the forward thinking that the British economy needs - however, we must not lose focus on the importance of developing the skills of the British workforce. It is only through having a highly skilled manufacturing workforce producing quality products that we will be able to generate the growth the economy needs."

Terry Watts adds his voice to a growing number of heads of manufacturing who are calling for change to be made to the skills system, "Changing the infrastructure of skills within British manufacturing must take priority, there is too much bureaucracy, too much money wasted and not enough decisions made with proper consultation from representatives of all areas of British manufacturing."

Launching the White Paper, Business Secretary Vince Cable said: "Trade and inward investment are key drivers of growth - they are fundamental to rebuilding and rebalancing our economy." But there have been widespread calls from British manufacturers who want to see action instead of words.

Terry Watts continued, "British manufacturing needs to be listened to now. We want a flexible and sectoral approach to developing Apprenticeships that meet employer needs, we need realigned systems of Government funding and support to replace the current offers that often restrict rather than improve the development of skills, and most importantly, we need to ensure that supply chains across the economy are supported and encouraged, rather than abandoned in favour of importing goods from abroad. This is the only way that British manufacturing will continue to be globally competitive, and it is only through having an elite workforce that produces the very best products that this can be achieved."