Government nationalises British Steel Industrials The government has brought British Steel under state ownership after the steelmaker’s nationalisation passed a public interest test. The Prime Minister said the move “secured the future of British steelmaking”, and follows the introduction of fresh legislation that made it easier for ministers to forcefully nationalise steel companies. Scunthorpe-based British Steel has appointed a revamped [...]
US glue maker swoops on AIM-listed manufacturer in £659m deal Industrials A US glue maker is set to hand London’s junior stock market another blow after snapping up medtech firm Advanced Medical Solutions. HB Fuller said on Thursday it would acquire the AIM-listed company in a deal that values it at £659m. The US manufacturer – which specialises in industrial adhesives and chemical products – offered [...]
Burnham must walk a tightrope on his ascent to Downing Street Politics After Andy Burnham cleared the path for a run at the Labour leadership with an emphatic win in the Makerfield by-election. Maurício Alencar sketches out what an Andy Burnham government could look like – and the balancing act he faces on the way there Despite romping home to victory in the Makerfield by-election on Friday, [...]
Manufacturers warn UK faces ‘tipping point’ on competitiveness January 12, 2026 The Labour government has been handed a major warning over the future of the manufacturing industry as the sector battles rising costs and pressures to shift business to shift overseas. A fresh survey from the sector’s industry body Make UK showed senior executives in manufacturing firms feared cost pressures would soon reach a “tipping point”. [...]
Reasons to be optimistic about the UK’s construction sector August 13, 2025 There are some early signs the UK’s beleaguered construction industry is turning a corner as higher demand, higher government investment and lower interest rates set shovels in the ground. Judging by the numbers so far this year, the UK’s construction industry is in a bad place: The sector contracted at the fastest pace since 2020 [...]
Reeves mulls taxpayer-funded subsidy to cut manufacturers’ energy costs June 8, 2025 Rachel Reeves is looking at plans for a £1bn taxpayer-funded annual subsidy to bring down the energy costs for manufacturers after warnings the UK faced “rapid deindustrialisation” without intervention. The Chancellor is facing mounting pressure to lower energy costs for industry with fears high prices are holding back investment opportunities and stifling the country’s competitiveness. [...]
East London industrial site snapped up for £100m April 9, 2025 Global real estate investment company Kennedy Wilson has bought an east London industrial park for £100m. It’s a positive sign for London’s industrial market, which slumped to a decade-low last year as demand for warehouse and logistics sites faded after the pandemic boom. Kennedy Wilson plans to create a set of 10 sustainable industrial units [...]
Industrial strategy must boost e-commerce exports to help small firms, report urges September 9, 2024 The government’s industrial strategy must prioritise e-commerce in order to boost small business exports and promote economic growth, a report has urged. Improving trade technology adoption, boosting support for targeting emerging markets, and developing initiatives to support female-led small and medium enterprises (SMEs) would make a significant contribution to the number of small firms exporting, [...]
Workers to strike at Rolls-Royce supplier owned by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway August 14, 2024 Almost 200 workers at a supplier to the likes of Airbus, Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems are to strike over an “unacceptable” pay offer. The employees at SPS Technologies in Leicester will begin industrial action later this month, union Unite has confirmed. SPS Technologies is part of Precision Castparts Corp which is owned by Warren Buffett’s [...]
Tata Steel: Labour demands urgent support for workers facing redundancies May 21, 2024 Labour is calling for the government to take urgent action to cover thousands of workers facing redundancy at the country’s biggest steel plant.