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News Release from: Manufacturing Technologies Association
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 12 April 2005
Rover plight is lesson for Government
The MTA has expressed its concern that MG Rover at Longbridge looks likely to close.
The MTA has expressed its concern that MG Rover at Longbridge looks likely to close "We regret that a situation has arisen where workers at Rover may lose their jobs and are concerned about the wider implications for companies in Rover's supply chain in the West Midlands", said MTA's Director General, Andrew Manly
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 1 Dec 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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This comes after a period of years when the number of people employed in manufacturing in the UK has steadily declined.
Sadly, Rover's troubles reinforce one of MTA's key messages: to remain competitive in a global marketplace it is vital that manufacturing companies invest in high added-value products to ensure higher levels of productivity and aid innovation.
This should be a top priority for the incoming Government.
Lessons can be learnt from Rover and the Government should take this opportunity to extend its dialogue with sector-based organisations like the MTA who have direct access into manufacturing companies, to look at the best ways to aid the remaining supply chain in the West Midlands if Rover does close.
MTA is currently undertaking a survey of its members to gain a clearer picture of the direct impact on our sector.
MTA President Paul Maynard commented: "Unfortunately it has taken the crisis at Rover to bring manufacturing to the top of the election agenda".
"Maybe this will focus all politicians' minds onto the fact that there has been a two-tier economy in the UK in the past eight years, where the service sector has been booming but the manufacturing sector has been in recession".
"Maybe this is the only positive thing to come out of this whole sorry tale".
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