UK Manufacturing Trends and Drivers over the next 5 years
NAAME’s board members IfM Engage consulted over 50 global manufacturing companies across various sectors to identify key trends and drivers shaping the next five years and beyond.
This comprehensive study, validated by AI analysis of nearly 2,000 scientific sources, highlights four critical themes:
- digital transformation
- sustainability
- supply chain uncertainties
- availability of skilled labour.
As climate change, geopolitical shifts, and new technologies impact manufacturing, this Trends and Drivers Report provides insights to help organisations understand and address the challenges and opportunities ahead, ensuring resilience and sustainable growth in a dynamic landscape.
It is clear that manufacturing remains an integral part of UK economic output, and in 2023 the manufacturing industry contributed 9% to UK GDP. The same year the UK manufacturing sector ranked eighth globally by the value of output, with the industry generating a Gross Value Added figure of £224 billion, contributing 41% of all business R&D and employing 2.6 million people.