CHAIN REACTION Labelled a star performer in recent manufacturing data, the West Midlands is fast reinventing its industrial self by combining tradition with the future. Russ Cockburn finds out why the region – famed for its revolutions – is slowly starting another one.

WHILE THE UNCERTAINTY Just a few miles up the road from 2017 and it has just taken on its OF BREXIT HAS SEEN CAR the former Rootes// 1000th employee, invested nearly PRODUCTION FIGURES DIP site at Ryton is London Taxi Company’s £50m in its two state-of-the-art plants SLIGHTLY IN 2017 THERE IS STILL new £300m factory, which is expected and seen sales pass the £240m mark. to produce 5000 iconic ‘black cabs’ Its two plants in the heart of the West PLENTY TO BE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT. per year by 2019. Midlands are alive with automation, The 2 millionth seat structure rolled new technology, model launches and, SMMT FIGURES REVEAL THAT off the production line at Brose UK in importantly, a concerted desire to ENGINE PRODUCTION HAD earlier this year, marking an train the engineers of the future. ALREADY TOPPED 2.1MILLION unbelievable transformation in This all provides a fantastic snapshot BY SEPTEMBER AND THERE fortunes for the 1st tier automotive of modern day car manufacturing in HAVE BEEN MAJOR INVESTMENT supplier. the UK and the significant renaissance DECISIONS ANNOUNCED, Just over five years ago the the sector has enjoyed, following the INCLUDING JAGUARLANDROVER company employed 250 people and demise of MG Rover and the closure COMMITTING TO A HOST OF NEW recovering from the cruel winds of the of the Ryton plant. MODELS IN THE UK. global slowdown. Fast forward to

Sectors 2017 – 17 Credit: Brose UK shire of the West Midlands and you will hear tales of growth from fastener manu- facturers, injection moulders, pressed metal specialists and design houses – all buoyed by expansion at the top of the tree.

IN THE FAST LANE Credit: Brose UK Star Performer Naturally, there’s a lot more than just automotive making up the various different layers of the Above: Juergen WEST MIDLANDS DATA Zahl, Managing West Midlands manufacturing fabric. The region is awash Director of Brose with an exciting mix of aerospace specialists, exciting inde- UK. pendent food producers, a fired-up ceramics industry and % of UK Output % of regional output a raft of high value manufacturers keen to make the most Above Right: Total GVA 7.3 Getting the right of 3D printing and the Internet of Things, 4th Industrial Revolution, Industry 4.0 or whatever the big tech firms want Manufacturing 10.6 14.8 skills remains an ongoing battle. to call it now. Services 6.9 75.1 Some of our more traditional sectors are also thriving. Construction 7.1 5.8 Metals and mechanical equipment are both enjoying

Credit: Brose UK growth off the back of an increase in global manufacturing demand.. “Skills and getting people interested in the steel industry is an ongoing battle and the shifts in material supply away Sitting pretty plant as evidence of the company’s from the UK have not helped,” says Peter Davies, one of “Coventry was our first-ever location commitment and the competitiveness of 323,000 the founders of OSSL Group, which includes three outside of Germany nearly 30 years ago the facility. companies: Brockhouse; Bromford; and JA Envirotanks, A team of engineers from the University of Wolverhamp- PEOPLE ARE EMPLOYED ANNUAL OUTPUT IS and we’re very passionate about making “We’ve come a long way operationally CALCULATED AS which are all based in the West Midlands. “However, if you ton are following in the footsteps of the leading Formula 1 IN MANUFACTURING IN it a success,” explained Juergen Zahl, but there is always room for improve- invest and focus on doing what you do best, you’ll be able teams, thanks to the backing of FBC Manby Bowdler. THE WEST MIDLANDS Managing Director of Brose UK. “It hasn’t ment. The recent installation of a new - 11% OF TOTAL to compete – and that’s what we are seeing at the moment. The independent law firm, which has six offices across always been easy and we’ve experi- e-coat line gives us the opportunity to EMPLOYMENT. £ bn “Brockhouse, which supplies hammer and upset the region, has agreed a three-year sponsorship deal that enced ‘ups and downs’ as much as any bring an external process in-house and 17.5 forgings, is dealing with increased demand in rail and has helped the fledgling Wolverhampton team secure two other business supplying the automotive the capacity to paint 3.5million seat mining, while our rolling mill is now seeing the benefits of sector. The good news is we’re currently structures every year. huge investment. It’s a measured approach but one that second place championship finishes in the F3 Cup. enjoying increases in volumes across “The decision was made before the also needs to incorporate product development and the SINCE MARCH 2010, This season, the University of Wolverhampton has se- both our window regulator and seat Brexit vote. However, there was never latest technology.” cured 5 pole positions, 3 wins, 9 podiums, 5 fastest laps structure businesses.” any suggestion we wouldn’t go through MANUFACTURING JOBS IN and 2 fastest driver awards. Zahl is a man that has been brought with it. The UK market is very good for THE WEST MIDLANDS HAVE INCREASED Strength and uncertainty up in the Brose philosophy and is us and we are about to introduce a BY 9.9% - MORE THAN 4 TIMES THE According to latest figures from the EEF, Davies’ confi- “The bigger picture for us is that we are helping young adamant that the UK operation has to number of new model launches.” dence in the region is well placed, as the West Midlands is engineers gain valuable experience in a racing team and continue to strive to be the most Brose is just one of the many supply NATIONAL GROWTH RATE one of the UK’s star performers. this has already led to some of them securing full-time competitive location in the Group. The chain success stories that are benefit- PRODUCTIVITY IS 85.3% OF THE UK AVERAGE, “Output and order balances were the highest of any area positions with and Mercedes F1,” said Neil softly-spoken German points to the ting from the recent boom in car produc- THE 2ND LOWEST OF ANY UK REGION. in quarter two of 2017, building on the impressive Lloyd, Commercial Director at FBC Manby Bowdler. firm’s £10m investment in a new paint tion. You can visit any town, city or even momentum already seen through the year. Recruitment WEST MIDLANDS ACCOUNTED FOR 10.9% OF ALL UK and investment intentions, although not quite hitting the “We’ve taken our commitment one stage further by MANUFACTURED EXPORTS IN 2016; 2ND HIGHEST OF heights of the other balances, remain positive and above providing £500 bursaries for female engineers looking to ANY REGION. the UK average,” said Charlotte Horobin, EEF Region get involved. This will hopefully encourage more girls to “Coventry was our first-ever location outside THE EU RECEIVED 46.9% OF THE REGION’S Director for the Midlands and East. “Performance has been consider a career in manufacturing.” EXPORTS; BELOW THE UK AVERAGE. very good in the region and, whilst we expect a little bit of of Germany nearly 30 years ago and we’re softening at the start of 2018, we still expect the next University of Wolverhampton also runs cars in other dis- WEST MIDLANDS SENDS 19.7% OF EXPORTS TO ASIA twelve months to be positive. That’s not to say there aren’t ciplines, notably Formula Student, Morgan Challenge and very passionate about making it a success” & OCEANIA AND NORTH AMERICA, 2ND HIGHEST OF challenges we need to face. Hill Climbing. ANY UK REGION. “At the top of that list will be the uncertainty that Brexit is

18 – 2017 Sectors Sectors 2017 – 19 RDM Group’s Pod and will continue to create. Manufacturers our technology, it’s like a mark of quality.” opened Marches Centre of Manufac- has to benefit the supply chain as a Zero is making an hate the ‘u’ word. They would much prefer turing & Technology in Bridgnorth whole; that’s the key,” he emphasized. Above: The MCMT impression in the to know what they have to deal with and get Skills to pay the bills (MCMT), recognises. “We need to stop cannibalising existing complex in Bridgnorth is a home market and on with it. Trade tariffs, retaining and The West Midlands may well have found A Director at Grainger & Worrall since talent and flood the market with lots of abroad. fully equipped, attracting the best people from around the some possible answers to the much-dis- 2013, he was invited to lead an employ- skilled people. That will help industry advanced training Credit: RDM Group globe and current issues around higher cussed skills gap; academia and industry er-led consortium of G&W, Classic Motor grow.” hub. import costs are all playing on the minds of might actually be realising that the Cars, Salop Design & Engineering and Credit: MCMT bosses. solution involves the two of them In-Comm in creating a new state-of- WRITTEN BY “Encouragingly, the region is one of the working much closer together. the-art training hub. strongest in the country when it comes to The region is dotted with some The project officially opened on Author Name Here is an exporting outside of the EU and those striking, visible signs. In the Black November 10th, backed by £1.9m of experienced writer and editor who existing relationships will certainly be a Country, Dudley Advance II is supporting Government Growth Deal funding via covers information technology, strength moving forward, as will innovation construction; in Wolverhampton, the the Marches LEP and with support from and design. These two facets of our DNA Elite Centre for Manufacturing Skills is Shropshire Council. The 36,000 sq ft enterprise software, among other Left: Matt Snelson, MD of the Marches are going to be crucial as we re-position providing a focal point for high-value storage facility boasts dedicated fabrica- subjects. He is a visiting fellow Centre of ourselves in the new economy.” manufacturing skills. tion, foundry, lathe, metrology, milling, of Cranfield University. He is Manufacturing David Keene, CEO of RDM Group, agrees. Birmingham has seen a new EEF tech- robotics and vehicle trimming sections. a visiting fellow of Cranfield Technology. His firm are helping to pioneer driverless nology hub opened and, this year, the There is also a 200-seat auditorium, University. Credit: MCMT vehicle technology through its work with Coventry-based Institute for Advanced along with smaller break-out classrooms Innovate UK and the launch of “Pod Zero”, a Manufacturing and Engineering (AME) and a CNC Zone that is full of 3-axis and “first and last mile” transport solution. produced its first industry-ready 5-axis machines, donated by the Engi- “In the last year alone, we’ve opened graduates. neering Technology Group. offices in Adelaide and Houston, as global At the heart of all of these is a desire “All the training is delivered by Ofsted demand for our technology and pods from employers to become more ‘Outstanding’ rated In-Comm,” Matthew increases,” he said. “We’ve also exhibited in involved in shaping the delivery and to pointed out. “We are tasked with Australia, Canada, France and Germany, take the lead in developing training that creating 2020 learning opportunities by and the reaction from everyone has been delivers what they actually need. 2020. These will be through trailblazer ‘wow, we need this technology.’ The ‘Made apprenticeships, alongside upskilling in the UK’ brand has been very important; It’s a sentiment that Matthew Snelson, courses for the local workforce. people overseas buy into our design and Managing Director of the recently “The MCMT has to be inclusive and

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