The Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) has thrown its support behind The Year of Engineering, a Government campaign celebrating UK engineering in 2018.
The Year of Engineering is a year-long campaign to tackle the engineering skills gap and widen the pool of young people who join the profession.
The MTA is the UK's trade association for companies who make and supply the technology that manufacturers use to make product, promoting the use and innovation of advanced technology in manufacturing.
James Selka, CEO of the MTA said: “The UK has a world-wide reputation for engineering ingenuity and is at the forefront of technological breakthroughs that are shaping the world we live in. It is our responsibility to champion engineering’s present and future. All of the companies, suppliers, institutions and funders who have signed our letter, recognise how vital it is that we attract new talent in to the engineering sector and by coming together we can amplify support for this excellent project.”
As well as the MTA, companies who have signed this letter include BAE Systems, Siemens, Renishaw, Yamazaki Mazak and DMG Mori. The letter is also supported by many respected UK institutions, such as, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre and the University of Huddersfield.
James Selka added: “The fast-changing word in which we live is shaped by engineering and we are pleased to throw our support behind this campaign. The UK advanced engineering sector is something to be very proud of.”
“As a trade association and as the team behind the UK’s largest industrial showcase MACH 2018 which will be held in April, we feel the time is right to shine a light on all that is great and good in UK engineering and ensure we continue to be world leaders in this field. Therefore, we wholeheartedly support this campaign to make 2018 The Year of Engineering.”
The letter reads:
Dear Prime Minister,
Technological change is the moving spirit of our age. Whether it is the development of AI pushing our understanding of consciousness, 3D Printing altering how we can make things or digital technology transforming how businesses interact with consumers, we are seeing the future hurtle towards us.
In the United Kingdom over 2,600,000 people are directly employed in manufacturing with many more in other sectors indirectly reliant on it too. Manufacturing accounts for 70% of UK R&D and advanced engineering in particular is the sort of high value, high wage, highly exportable industry we increasingly need. We welcome the recognition of manufacturing’s importance in the Industrial Strategy.
The Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) represents the companies who make and supply the technology that manufacturers deploy to create and make the world around us. We therefore welcome the decision to declare 2018 the Year of Engineering.
The UK has a world-wide reputation for engineering ingenuity and is at the forefront of technological break throughs that are shaping the world we live in. It is our responsibility to champion engineering’s present and future.
We’re looking forward to events up and down the country over the next twelve months not least the largest exhibition of manufacturing technology in the country this year, MACH 2018. MACH will see over 30,000 people from the world of engineering come together, at the NEC between the 9-13 April, to find out about the latest developments and best innovations. MACH caters for manufacturers of all sizes and sectors and is the place to showcase the industry, get business done and attract new talent.
As part of the Year of Engineering we are committed to using the event as an opportunity to promote the industry and the profession here in the UK.
Yours sincerely,
MTA, Members and Associates.
