Our recent Manufacturing Dinner saw business leaders from across the region’s manufacturing sector join us for an evening of informative discussion at the ever impressive The Mowbray in Sheffield.
The building itself demonstrates the constant evolution of our economy and offers a link to the city’s manufacturing heritage, having been built in 1889 as a steel and iron merchants. It also provided a fantastic back drop for Steve Foxley, CEO of the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), to share his thoughts on the future of the sector and challenges manufacturing businesses are and will be facing.
One particular topic that struck a chord with all in attendance was manufacturing’s role in helping the UK achieve its carbon reduction targets. Steve noted that since 1990 the UK has achieved a 48% reduction in CO2 emissions, mainly through renewable energy sources replacing fossil fuels.
However, the CEO noted that in order to meet the UK’s target of being net zero by 2050, CO2 emissions will have to fall by a further 60% over the next decade. This step change, he explained, will be critical for manufacturers as the bulk of reductions are expected to come from changes to manufacturing, surface transport and residential buildings.
Steve, who leads the AMRC – the organisation responsible for bridging academia and industry – explained that rather than being afraid of the target this drive will put “on the back of manufacturing businesses”, it should be seen as an opportunity for manufacturing to galvanise critical role in UK plc.
He explained that whilst a big element of the AMRC’s work is supporting industrial partners on the technology footpath to net zero, the truth is, “industry can’t wait for technology to deliver the required reductions”.
In fact, he sees the solution to these reductions as being industry collaboration!
The CEO finished his discussion by setting a challenge to the sector to come together and deliver what might currently seem impossible regarding emissions targets. You may be asking how it’s possible to deliver the impossible? Steve cited the power of collaboration during the pandemic when UK manufacturing came together to build as many ventilators in 10 weeks as would ordinarily have taken 10 years.
But collaboration isn’t the only answer, he also highlighted that another major solution to reducing emissions is demand reduction. His example was the AMRC’s own the “Big Switch Off” initiative, a project which sees the AMRC switch off the vast majority of its power consuming devices and machines each weekend, reducing power consumption by 75% – enough to power 150 homes for a year.
It was fantastic that following Steve’s conversation, the room was abuzz with conversation and knowledge sharing on the practical steps that could be taken to collaborate with each other. One challenge which remains out of the hands of industry is the need for local and national government to be joined up and clear in what is required. Ultimately, if they can provide certainty, this will empower our region’s manufacturing businesses to deliver the step change needed to reduce emissions.
I left the dinner thinking; it is not just the role of national and local government to help create this collective approach. We as advisors at BHP have a role to play in supporting the sector to address this challenge. With decades of experience working with businesses in manufacturing and many other sectors, I believe we can foster greater communication and co-operation between businesses and encourage knowledge sharing.
It’s my hope that through our Manufacturing Dinners, which are hosted several times a year, both in Sheffield and Leeds and across other events we host, we not only bring key players together to work through challenges and opportunities, but provide advice and support on every step of the journey for both businesses and business leaders.
If you would be interested in joining a future event, we’d be delighted to hear from you. Please contact Lucy Ellis at lucy.ellis@bhp.co.uk
