Manufacturing 'must grow to help on climate change'

BUSINESS leaders will press the case today for a bigger manufacturing base to help tackle challenges such as climate change as well as boosting the economy.

The Engineering Employers Federation said manufacturing should be at the centre of a more diverse and durable economy.

A report called for a new industrial bank to invest in industry as well as a National Economic Council to help deliver improvements.

The growth of sectors such as aerospace, medical equipment and energy will be vital if the UK is to provide the solutions to climate change, demographic shifts and future security needs with domestic manufacturing capacity, said the federation.

Chief executive Gilbert Toppin said: "Manufacturing must play a bigger role if we are to meet the challenges facing us. It can be a major player in addressing climate change and meeting our demographic and security challenges as well as helping to claw back the twin deficits in the public sector and on trade."