New BEMA president slams UK budget

A BEMA product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Apr 29, 2002

The new President of the Bristol and Western Engineering Manufacturers' Association (BEMA) has outlined the organisation's direction for the year ahead.

The new President of the Bristol and Western Engineering Manufacturers' Association (BEMA) has outlined the organisation's direction for the year ahead and criticised the government on its proposals for increasing the National Insurance burden outlined in last week's budget.

In his first statement, Andrew Putin, indicated that the organisation will be raising its profile and increasing its influence on government policy relating to the engineering and manufacturing sectors.

Putin,48, Head of Litigation at Bristol based Burroughs Day Solicitors, is the first solicitor to be appointed BEMA President.

He stated: "The past year has indeed been a tough one for manufacturing.

BEMA has been working very closely with companies and SMEs in particular to help them deal with difficult decisions including redundancies, and in extreme cases, business closures.

Whilst there were a few positive measures in the budget to help manufacturing, the benefits from these were far outweighed by the impact of the increase in employers' national insurance contributions.

Many engineering companies, already teetering on the edge, will be pushed to closure by this additional burden".

BEMA works closely with the Regional Development Agency and fellow engineering bodies in the interests of its members in the South West, but the concerns and issues it raises impact on industry throughout Britain.

While for manufacturers, the budget has been poorly received, other central government initiatives, via the DTI, are showing promise.

Patricia Hewitt has received much praise for her hands-on approach in her role as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry; and the launch of the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) this month shows true promise.

Putin continued: "The MAS has tremendous potential.

It should prove a very effective way of helping manufacturing firms in all aspects of their work.

With specialists who understand the needs of the sector giving ground level support throughout Britain - just like BEMA already does in the South West - the initiative should prove to be very helpful.

Importantly, with 'real human advisors' it has the potential to deliver results, and a BEMA member is sitting on the board".

With 50% of BEMA's members indicating earlier this year that they will be diversifying their businesses to guard against sector specific downturns, such as that recently experienced in the aerospace sector, the Association will be redoubling its efforts to help them expand their businesses through access to funding, training, marketing and export advice to build their long-term prospects and stability.

On a final, light-hearted note, with reference to President Putin of Russia, the BEMA President, quipped: "Perhaps the government will be a bit more receptive to BEMA when they hear that President Putin is on the line".