Backing Britain: Ficep UK’s Commitment to the Future of the Industry
Backing Britain is back. Made in Group is urging the UK government to debate and act upon: addressing concerns related to safeguarding manufacturing capacity, addressing concerns related to ownership of British businesses and appointing a Minister for manufacturing.
After the recent general election, the Backing Britain Campaign aims to present both the challenges and opportunities in the manufacturing sector to the new government. By amplifying the voices of the business leaders most affected, the campaign seeks to educate top-level officials about the changes that SMEs in manufacturing want to see.
Ficep UK has been supplying specialist CNC machines to manufacturers across the UK for over 20 years now. Their high-end sheet metal fabrication machinery has been (and continues to be) an integral part of the manufacturing process for a variety of complex infrastructure projects that are shaping our nation's landscape.
As part of Made in Group’s Backing Britain campaign, Sam Sleight of Made in Yorkshire and Karen Tinkler of Partners PR caught up with Richard Clark, Operations Director at Ficep UK.
Find out why Richard believes Backing Britain is so important for the future of manufacturing here in the UK in his video interview with Sam and Karen below.
Whilst speaking off camera, Richard continued to build on points mentioned during the interview. So for a deeper dive on what Backing Britain means to Richard and how he believes the UK government could benefit from taking inspiration from what other governments are doing to support their manufacturing sectors, please read on…
Supporting UK Manufacturing with Cutting-Edge Technology
Whilst Ficep’s machines are manufactured in Italy, their 30+ strong team based out of Castleford, West Yorkshire play a vital role in the supply chain for large manufacturers across a range of industries here in the UK.
Their customers are responsible for some of the country’s biggest infrastructure projects; including the manufacturing of bridges and transmission towers, just to name a couple.
Beyond simply supplying machines, Ficep UK provides a comprehensive service and support system to ensure their customers can maintain peak performance. This includes servicing, support, and the provision of tooling vending machines, which ensure that replacement parts are always on hand, minimising downtime and keeping production lines moving smoothly.
Investing in People: Building the Future of Manufacturing
But Ficep UK’s commitment to the industry extends far beyond technology. The company is also extremely passionate about job creation and skills development within the sector. Ficep UK’s team comprises various roles, ranging from technical and machine sales to field engineers and a dedicated installation team. Recognising the importance of nurturing the next generation of talent, Ficep UK has recently partnered with the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) to bring on its first of many apprentices.
Richard Clark reiterated off camera, “Backing Britain, to me, is about more than just supporting the industry as it stands today”. He continued, “It’s about addressing the skills shortages that we’re currently facing. By showcasing the opportunities within the sector, we can inspire the next generation to seriously consider careers in manufacturing.”
Richard is passionate about changing the perception of manufacturing careers. He alluded to the scope of roles manufacturers recruit for and highlighted the fact that the UK government should be doing more to change the dated perceptions of the sector on a number of occasions. Concluding his take on this topic, Richard emphasised: “if more people understood these opportunities, we’d see a greater influx of talent into the industry, which would help it thrive.”
A Call for Strategic Leadership: Learning from European Counterparts
Looking to the future, Richard advocates for stronger government support for UK manufacturing, particularly through the appointment of a dedicated Minister for Manufacturing. He draws inspiration from Italy, where the manufacturing sector benefits from multiple ministers and a robust network of organisations like AFIL (Associazione Fabbrica Intelligente Lombardia) and UCIMU (Italian machine tool, robots, automation systems and ancillary products (NC, tools, components, accessories) manufacturers' association).
Richard highlighted the impact these associations are able to have on influencing the government’s industrial strategy; simply by bringing together stakeholders from across the manufacturing community, from companies of all sizes to research centres and universities, in conjunction with a government that listens to the collective voice of the manufacturing sector.
Ficep UK’s Operations Director believes that the UK could greatly benefit from adopting similar strategies. “A dedicated Minister for Manufacturing would give our industry the representation it needs at government level,” Richard stated to us. “It would help create and deliver a long-term industrial strategy that supports the growth and success of UK manufacturing, ensuring that we remain competitive on the global stage.”
Ficep UK’s Vision for a Thriving Future
As Ficep UK continues to invest in both technology and people, the company remains a staunch supporter of the Backing Britain campaign. By advocating for strategic leadership and fostering the next generation of manufacturing talent, Ficep UK is not only contributing to the current success of the sector but also helping to secure its future.
Richard’s vision for UK manufacturing is clear: a thriving, dynamic industry that is recognised for its vital role in the nation’s economy and supported by a robust, forward-thinking and industry-led strategy.
Made in Group is a trade organisation that helps elevate manufacturing businesses' online presence whilst giving them a platform to connect and share ideas. Dedicated to uniting British industry, the UK collective relies on its members to help them amplify their voice for manufacturing and showcase the critical role of industry leaders in shaping the nation's future.
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