Make UK

Input prices rose six point one percent in the year to August twenty twenty-six, compared with a three point seven percent increase in producer output prices, according to the latest Office for National Statistics figures.

Make UK has appointed Clare Umney, managing director of Always Engineering, as the new chair of its West Midlands Regional Advisory Board.

As chair, Clare will help strengthen the link between manufacturers across the West Midlands and Make UK, working with fellow industry leaders to shape national priorities and ensure the concerns of businesses are reflected in its campaigning work.

And Ircles' Roy Grave shares five practical tips for building a future-ready manufacturing workforce.

He says companies should place emphasis on continuous learning, skills development, and the importance of preparing employees for evolving industry demands.

Further rollout to waste collectors is planned from spring next year.

Finally, Make UK has called for practical delivery of the government's re-industrialisation plans following Labour's party conference.

Its priorities include lower industrial energy costs, access to investment finance and training shaped around employers' needs.

Make UK's research finds that just 2% of manufacturers have widely embedded artificial intelligence, while more than half identify skill shortages as the biggest adoption barrier.

The organisation sees October's budget as a test of delivery.

For the full stories, visit plasticmedia.co.uk. We'll be back tomorrow morning.

Designed for automotive components such as brackets, housings, and connectors, they aim to help manufacturers increase recycled content while retaining the strength, stiffness, and dimensional stability these applications require.

Finally, Make UK has welcomed plans for a publicly owned great British grid while calling for more immediate relief on industrial energy costs.

The organization says faster connections and infrastructure improvements are needed, but manufacturers cannot wait for longer term reforms.

It is urging the government to remove policy levies from energy bills and accelerate the industrial strategy.

Make UK says one in four members is already moving activity overseas or considering it.

For the full stories, visit plasticmedia.co.uk. We'll be back tomorrow morning.

[upbeat music]

I'm your host, Jess, and here are the latest stories from the plastics industry in the UK and Ireland.

First, Opus International Products has been shortlisted for the Make UK Regional SME Award for Manufacturing Impact.

The company says the nomination recognises its team's hard work, ambition and commitment.

Opus will join fellow manufacturers at the awards dinner at the University of Warwick on 14 October.

The wider programme will support aerospace and defence production, skilled employment and the domestic supply chain.

Rolls-Royce spent more than £2.8bn with UK suppliers last year.

On workforce development, Make UK is highlighting a new apprenticeship hiring payment available from tomorrow.

Eligible employers that do not pay the apprenticeship levy could receive up to £2,000 when recruiting an apprentice aged 16 to 24.

First, manufacturers across the UK are opening their doors today for National Manufacturing Day.

Led by Make UK, the initiative gives visitors a look inside modern factories and highlights opportunities in apprenticeships, reskilling and career development.

Plenty of events are taking place across UK plastics manufacturing.

Visit Make UK's website to find an open day near you.

Staying with skills, Sierra 57 Consult has secured six finalist places at the Plastics Industry Awards.

Four recognised training partnerships with Flambeau Europe, Plasmatech, SGH Moulds and WHS Plastics.

And that's how you would maybe think of yourself and describe yourself.

And you might be a member of the British Retail Consortium, the Engineering Employers Federation, that kind of thing.

um and although we do have family business representatives what is in this country um one of the one of the things that's noticeable is that family businesses don't seem to be great joiners of things you know they they they keep their heads down uh they they do the day job of running their business employing people looking after their customers um and i suppose that that To some extent, the sector suffers a little bit from a lack of high-profile ambassadors.

I mean, we can come on to that in a minute, but there aren't a lot of people out there being an advocate for this model.

First, Dudley Associates will welcome young people to its Lutterworth injection moulding facility this Thursday for National Manufacturing Day.

The Make UK initiative showcases manufacturing careers.

Supporting Dudley associates are Sierra 57, Ultra Polymers Group, the British Plastics Federation, UK Manufacturing Festivals and TH Plastics.

Students will see a working factory and explore careers across engineering, materials and sustainability, helping address the industry's future skills needs.

The system combines heavy-duty robotics with vision and motion control to produce large aircraft structures with accuracy of around one millimeter.

Loop says one system can match the output of five to 10 conventional machines, supporting higher production rates while reducing factory space requirements.

Finally, Make UK is warning that the government's re-industrialisation ambitions must translate into practical support for manufacturers.

Ahead of the autumn budget, it is calling for lower industrial energy costs, reduced employer national insurance pressures and business rates relief.