UK MANUFACTURING HOLDS KEY TO UNLOCKING GOVERNMENT’S DOMESTIC AND GLOBAL AMBITIONS

Norton Motorcycles opens new global headquarters

Norton Motorcycles has opened its new global headquarters in Solihull.

Five of the UK’s biggest trade associations, representing sectors with nearly 800,000 employees, annual turnover of more than £338 billion and £166 billion in exports, have come together to publish a joint report.

It sets out policy recommendations to maximise the potential of UK manufacturing to generate and sustain high value jobs and growth.

The Manufacturing Five – the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, ADS, which represents companies in aerospace, defence, security and space, the Chemical Industries Association, the Food and Drink Federation and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders –make recommendations on how government can work with them to seize new economic opportunities, sustain jobs and deliver growth.

This first joint report by the five associations sets out a long-term strategy that puts manufacturing at the heart of the UK’s domestic and global agenda.

Its recommendations include investing in infrastructure, skills and incentives to develop new clusters of advanced manufacturing across the UK, scaling up the industrial energy transformation fund to deliver progress towards Net Zero and expanding incentives to attract significant research and development investment.

The report also urges the development of a coherent strategy for the UK’s regulatory approach for manufacturing sectors and placing advanced manufacturing at the forefront of a long-term export strategy developed with industry.

According to MAKE UK, the manufacturers organisation, almost three million people work in the UK’s manufacturing sector and companies in the sector drive more than 60 per cent of all UK research and development.

The sector’s annual output is worth £192 billion to the economy overall. The UK remains in top 10 manufacturing nations at ninth place.

The manufacturing facility includes a new global design, research and development hub and forms a key part of Norton’s big plan to become a world-leader in luxury hand-crafted motorcycles.

The new headquarters was funded by Indian multi-national two-wheel motor company TVS Motor Company which bought the iconic British motorbike marque in 2020.

Norton was founded in 1898 by James Lansdowne Norton as a manufacturer of fittings and parts for the two-wheel trade. By the 1960s, Norton had produced the world’s first production superbike – The Norton Commando, but the motor company’s fortunes fluctuated and the company was acquired by TVS Motor company two years ago.

Robert Hentschel, Norton Motorcycles’ CEO, said: “Our new headquarters is the perfect platform to re-energise our business as we lead the Norton brand to onward success where it will play a key role in the future of mobility.”