Renishaw backs online British manufacturing showcase

LEADING engineering business Renishaw joins other organizations in supporting a new website aimed at showcasing 21st century British manufacturing, Made Here Now, which is cheduled for launch on April 23 at a high-profile event in London.

Made Here Now will tell the story of modern-day industry through a series of articles, stunning pictures, and video on four exemplar companies. It will highlight modern manufacturing facilities and demonstrate how they are a world away from historic perceptions. Made Here Now will present a unique insight into four exemplar manufacturers that are different in size but are regarded as leaders in their respective products and services category.

A brainchild of former Financial Times manufacturing editor Peter Marsh, the new website also hopes to educate young people on the career opportunities in manufacturing, influence academics and politicians, and change perceptions of Britain’s industrial strengths.

A total of 46 organizations, including Renishaw, have expressed support for Made Here Now. For its part, Renishaw have opened two of its Gloucestershire manufacturing sites for the creation of a video for the website. These two facilities are the Stonehouse site, the company’s main UK machining facility, and the assembly facility at Woodchester, near Stroud, which was named UK’s Best Electronics and Electrical Plant in 2012.

According to Renishaw Communications head Chris Pockett, “We welcome any initiative that will present a more positive picture of manufacturing in the UK and help shatter outmoded stereotypes that act as a barrier to recruitment. It will take many years to change the negative perceptions that have developed in the wider populace, but Made Here Now will we believe make an excellent contribution to the aim of making our sector more appealing to young people, their parents, teachers, and other influencers.”

AES, Bentley Motors, Plessey Semiconductors, and FormFormForm have likewise opened their factories to authors and photographers, allowing them to explore the shopfloors and learn about innovations, new technologies, and opportunities.

According to Mr. Marsh, “The project has really captured the imagination and we’ve already received significant support from leading organizations such as JCB, Nesta, Rolls-Royce, Renishaw, Santander Bank, Siemens, the Royal Society, and the University of Cambridge.”

Mr. Marsh, who spent more than 20 years as a broadsheet journalist and recently published a book on the "New Industrial Revolution", added: “We are still very good at making things and manufacturing has immense potential to contribute substantially to our economy. However, not enough people are aware of our success stories and one way to improve the growth prospects of UK industry is to find new ways to tell the world about it. Made Here Now intends to meet this need by using some of the best design, photography, and writing to bring the excitement of making things to life.”