ROUND-UP FEBRUARY 2020
In Depth Five
Fast facts: Make UK Awards
regional awards
events, held
across the UK
Eleven
categories,
covering all
areas of industry
260
delegates
attended
the event
Make UK Awards honour the
best of British manufacturing
The brightest stars of British
industry were recognised at the
annual Make UK Manufacturing
Awards, held in London’s Canary Wharf
on 29 January. The event saw the winners
of the regional awards, which had been
presented across the country in recent
months, come together to crown the
overall national champions.
The winners were split into distinct
Business and Apprentice categories, to
recognise both the current and future
talent within the industry.
Alfreton-based high-end fashion
manufacturer, David Nieper Ltd, walked
away with the overall Manufacturer
of the Year gong, having also won the
Sustainability award and coming second
in the Developing Future Talent category.
Other major winners included Blythbased
Universal Wolf, which took away
the Business Growth award and was also
named SME Manufacturer of the Year.
The next generation of apprentices was
also recognised, with winners coming
from BAE Systems, Siemens, British
Engines and MBDA.
“We are absolutely thrilled to have
been recognised in these prestigious
awards, which is a real triumph for
our family business,” said Christopher
Nieper, managing director of David
Nieper. “We take both our social and
environmental responsibility seriously,
so being recognised for Sustainability
and Developing Future Talent, as well
as being the best amongst our peers,
means a huge amount to the company.”
Exports fall for third
consecutive quarter
UK manufacturing exports performed
better but still fell for the third quarter
in a row in Q4 of 2019, according to the
Lloyds Bank International Trade Index.
The Index, compiled in partnership with
IHS Markit, posted a reading of 47.9 for
new manufacturing export orders in
Q4, up from 46.5 in in the third quarter,
which was the weakest for seven years.
A reading of above 50 indicates growth,
while one below 50 signifies a decrease.
A reading of 51.0 was measured for
consumer goods exports in Q4, up
from 48.2 in Q3. The growth was
mainly driven by ‘other manufacturing’
exports, which includes sports and
leisure equipment, homeware and
luxury items. ‘Other manufacturing’
is the only export category measured
by the Index where new orders grew
in the past 12 months.
The services sector fared less well,
as exports contracted at the fastest rate
in five years in Q4 2019, with an Index
reading of just 46.5. Service businesses
surveyed by Lloyds Bank attributed the
fall to delayed decisions from overseas
clients ahead of Brexit.
Overseas markets also struggled,
with the economies of Germany and
the Netherlands – two of the top five
destinations for UK exports – seeing a
contraction for the first time in six-anda
half years in Q4. Weaker economic
conditions were also recorded by IHS
Markit in Italy, Austria, Poland and the
Czech Republic.
“The pull of Brand Britain and
favourable sterling exchange rates
helped exports of premium British
products grow consistently last year,
while new orders for other UK goods
and services fluctuated in the face of
political and economic uncertainty,”
commented Gwynne Master, MD and
global head of trade for Lloyds Bank
Global Transaction Banking. “The
landscape for exporters is constantly
changing, even as the UK enters 2020
on a firmer political footing.”
The winners of the Make UK Manufacturing Awards 2019
National Business Awards
Manufacturer of the Year: David Nieper Ltd
SME of the Year: Universal Wolf
Business Growth and Strategy (sponsored by RSM): Universal Wolf
Developing Future Talent: Nissan Motor Manufacturing
Health and Safety: Cleveland Bridge UK Limited
Innovation (sponsored by High Value Manufacturing Catapult): SEA Ltd
Leadership: Oliver Conger, Rototherm Group
Sustainability: David Nieper Ltd
National Apprentice Awards
Business Apprentice of the Year (Final Year): Helen Wood, MBDA UK
Business Apprentice of the Year (Rising Star): Sian Court, Siemens
Engineering Apprentice of the Year (Final Year): Alfie White,
BAE Systems Submarines
Engineering Apprentice of the Year (Rising Star): Denize Ivy Pilarta,
BAE Systems Submarines
Apprentice Endeavour Award: Corey Hogg, British Engines
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