Research indicates that UK manufacturers are not fully capitalizing on significant investment opportunities due to persistent economic and political uncertainties, alongside escalating costs,

according to recent findings.

A report from Make UK reveals that a substantial proportion of manufacturing firms, approximately one in four, express readiness to boost their investment endeavors provided there's an improvement in access to finance.

The report emphasizes the pivotal role of finance accessibility in shaping investment strategies over the next couple of years, particularly in crucial areas like capital equipment, automation, energy efficiency, and cybersecurity.

Surprisingly, more than half of the surveyed 100 companies admit to being oblivious to the diverse range of public finance sources and tailored government schemes specifically designed to assist manufacturers.

Fhaheen Khan, representing Make UK, likened access to finance to the lifeblood of manufacturers, highlighting its indispensable role in facilitating continuous investments vital for staying competitive in a sector marked by constant flux in the external landscape.

However, despite the abundance of investment opportunities, a significant portion remains untapped due to a lack of awareness among companies regarding both private and public financing options available to them. Khan stresses that unlocking these financing avenues holds the potential to unleash substantial benefits for manufacturers.

Make UK's estimates indicate that manufacturers are currently forgoing a staggering sum of up to GBP10 billion in potential investments, underlining the urgency for heightened awareness and improved accessibility to financing options in the sector. Photo by Joe D, Wikimedia commons.