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Bright joins local manufacturers in a show of solidarity to request government support
Article Date: 24 September 2020
Bright Engineering has this week written to Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson requesting his support in government to develop industrial strategy in key areas of concern, for the next 6 months of the pandemic.
In an usual move, 6 Lancashire SMEs have come together to jointly draft the correspondence, including PDS (CNC) Engineering, NR Engineering, Merc Aerospace, Straightline Engineering and Regal Precision (Colne) Ltd.
Says MD Jon Hoyle: "all the companies jointly signing the letter do compete in the marketplace, however we feel so strongly about protecting UK manufacturing, we have taken the unusual step of coming together as one voice to relay a common set of concerns to government."
The areas of support that Mr Hoyle and his fellow East Lancs contributors believe manufacturers are looking for are as follows:
- Continuation or evolution of job-retention scheme, to support part-time working and protect high value jobs and skills, particularly in critical industries such as aerospace
- Relaxation of the 10 June rule meaning anyone not furloughed prior to this date can not be subsequently furloughed
- More support for apprenticeships
- Business Rate relief
- VAT Deferred to 2021 to be extended due to the scope and scale of the current crisis
- Ensure that major capital projects like HS2 award contracts for manufactured items and construction in the UK
The cohort of companies in support of the letter believe that the manufacturing community is innovative and entrepreneurial and will evolve during the pandemic to be greener, leaner and more innovative, with digital working at the heart of what we do. But the group have called on government to continue to support business through this unprecedented and extraordianary time, and avoid a 31st October cliff edge when the furlough scheme ends.
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