BCF Backs Government’s Industrial Strategy Green Paper

The British Coatings Federation (BCF) has welcomed the publication of the government’s Industrial Strategy Green Paper. The organization has consistently called for a long-term and robust UK industrial strategy, with industry itself involved in its development. The proposals outlined in the Green Paper provide the bedrock for that vision to be delivered upon.

The BCF represents more than 140 members that contribute £4 billion annually to the UK economy and export £1 billion of products a year. It welcomes the Green Paper’s recognition of the importance of “foundational” or “enabling” sectors to the wider manufacturing industry – such as coatings – without which other sectors could not function.

The overall Strategy focuses on building on already identified strengths, namely eight growth-driving sectors: Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy Industries, Creative Industries, Defence, Digital and Technologies, Financial Services, Life Sciences, and Professional and Business Services.

Crucially, however, the plan also identifies the need to provide policies “for those subsectors on which the growth-driving sectors have critical dependencies…”’ including ‘“foundational”’ sectors…which provide critical inputs and infrastructure to our growth-driving sectors.” It “identifies the importance of strong supply chain linkages between sectors, as supporting upstream sectors can enhance the productivity of downstream sectors.”

This is a clear recognition that if the government wishes to bring in more investment from companies working in fields such as aerospace, automotive, life sciences or green energy, it also needs to ensure that there is a strong domestic manufacturing supply chain of “enabling sectors.” like coatings, without which those other industries will not succeed. This addition goes much further than the previous government’s Advanced Manufacturing Plan and is a positive step.

BCF also welcomes the recognition that a broader “pro-business environment”’ needs to be in place for the strategy to work. The Green Paper notes this being created with positive policies on “people and skills, innovation, energy and infrastructure, the regulatory environment, crowding in investment, and international partnerships and trade.”

BCF agrees with all of those areas, particularly creating the correct regulatory environment. Crucial to the coatings sector, and all those within the broader chemicals Industry, is to finally deliver a solution on chemical regulation in a way that delivers an ambitious and proportionate regulatory environment within which UK businesses can compete as world leaders, including a swift resolution to UK REACH.

“We welcome the publication of the Green Paper and the vision for a holistic and long-term UK Industrial Strategy,” BCF CEO Tom Bowtell said. “In particular, we are pleased to see the recognition of the importance of ‘foundational’ sectors – such as coatings – in the strategy. It is also pleasing to see a joined-up approach with references to a need for a pro-business regulatory environment. This latter is fundamental to those businesses working in the chemicals sector and where we need to see, finally, workable and proportionate post-Brexit regulatory regimes put in place, especially for UK REACH.

“BCF looks forward to responding to the consultation, and talking with government, to set out how the coatings sector can help deliver on the positive plans for a strong and growing domestic UK manufacturing base,” added Bowtell. “We already have a positive story to tell but with the right policies we can, collectively – government and industry working together – make British manufacturing an even greater success.”