Following the Chancellor’s identification of ‘advanced manufacturing’ as a key pillar of the UK economy, Composites UK has worked alongside Make UK to provide input on four key areas where both the Treasury and the Department for Business & Trade were seeking input. Composites UK consulted its members, working groups and the working groups of the Composites Leadership Forum to provide a comprehensive view from the UK composite sector which was submitted on 6th July 2023.
Key areas covered in the consultation were:
- Key regulatory barriers to innovation and growth in the sector.
- How the UK regulatory environment for advanced manufacturing could be improved to shift the innovation landscape in the short to medium term.
- Which countries could we learn from in terms of best practice for regulatory framework.
- Areas where a lack of clarity surrounding regulations had impacted innovation.
The composites sector contributes significantly to the UK economy and to many priority industries including Aerospace and Automotive. The composites industry in the UK is worth £10.72bn per year and employs 47,500 highly skilled people.
Composites UK believes the composites sector has an important role to play in the Governments drive for net-zero and the new green industrial revolution. Opportunities arise, for example, from increasing usage of composite materials to reduce the weight of all types of vehicles as part of an electrification strategy. We know that the properties of lightweight, durability and longevity, composite materials are already contributing to the development of sustainable solutions for assemblies and structures in a wide range of industries. The aim of Composites UK is to work with members, partners, and government to create the most supportive environment for innovation and sustainable growth.