Best for Britain ran this session of the UK Trade and Business Commission on 19th January 2023. 

This session of the UK Trade and Business Commission analysed the UK’s manufacturing and construction sectors, with one hour-long panel on manufacturing immediately followed by an hour-long panel on construction.

Both the UK’s manufacturing and construction sectors have struggled with challenging economic conditions over the past year - and yet both sectors are pivotal to UK domestic growth. With UK manufacturing predicted to see a downturn over the coming year, it was vital for the Commission to explore how the Government and the trade agreements it forges can prevent sector slump and and grow a sector which provides many high-skilled, high-wage jobs, and historically demonstrates significant productivity for its size. 

UK construction has seen an expansion over the past year, but it faces acute workforce challenges and is affected heavily by fluctuating demand in the economy.

Panel 1

• Fergus McReynolds, Director of EU & International Affairs, Make UK

• Simon Collingwood, Head of External Relations and Communications, AMRC

• Jack Semple, Secretary, Engineering and Machinery Alliance (EAMA)

Panel 2

• D’Maris Coffman, Director, Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction, UCL

• Noble Francis, Economics Director, Construction Products Association

• Vincent Clancy, Chief Executive, Turner & Townsend (on behalf of RICS)