Carol Rose Burke, Managing Director of Manufacturing, Engineering and Design at Unipart, believes the country needs to be bold and brave in its approach to embracing cleaner mobility, greener engineering and emerging markets.
Speaking ahead of the SMMT International Automotive Summit next week, the high-profile CBE wants government, trade bodies, academia, OEMs, primes and suppliers to work closer together to commercialise more innovation in the country. She feels the UK has untapped, deep domestic capability across entire supply chains – components, systems, electrification, engineering, advanced manufacturing and industrialisation.
“If better connected to demand in multiple sectors, this could contribute significantly to growth…it is currently a major missed opportunity,” explained Carol, who has been in industry for more than four decades.
“Demand signals from OEMs matter. Suppliers can invest, scale and innovate, but they need clearer long-term signals from OEMs and government to justify the capital and capability required to support the UK’s desire to reach 1.3m vehicle production by 2035.
“If we invest in both capacity and capabilities, then we can be as competitive as any country – especially when you factor in the actual ‘landing price’ of parts if sourced overseas.”
She continued: “This is driving reshoring opportunities…it’s early days, but there’s a shift in momentum. We’re already seeing examples at Unipart where existing and new customers are bringing projects back home, quoting a desire for shorter, more secure supply chains that deliver both operational and environmental benefits.”
“There’s plenty of markets that can benefit from the deep supply chain capability that has been developed in the automotive industry, there’s no doubt about that. There is also increasing demand from industries, such as construction and nuclear, who need to accelerate production quickly,” commented Carol.
“This should equate to a positive opportunity, yet there is a notable industry reluctance to buy from suppliers who are extremely capable but lacking a proven track record in the sector.
“There is a huge amount of capability, knowledge and IP sitting within UK businesses, but many are not yet at the size or scale needed to take products into full commercial delivery, particularly in sectors like defence where demand is growing quickly.
“Funding must be tied more clearly to UK industrial outcomes. We can support R&D and innovation, but unless there is a stronger route to commercialisation and domestic production, there is a risk that publicly supported innovation is developed here and then scaled elsewhere.
“That’s where businesses like Unipart can play an important role in joining the dots, helping to industrialise and commercialise cutting-edge ideas so they become real production capability in the UK.”
Carol concluded: “My passion for the future is based on the UK having an opportunity to reshape its own manufacturing future by redrawing our supply chain capability. We just need to be confident in what we do well, back it by all means necessary and shout about it whenever we get the chance to do so.”
For further information, please visit www.unipart.com
