Launching ADS’s five-point election manifesto, chief executive Paul Everitt said the spotlight would be on the new Government’s commitment to putting in place the foundations for substantial gains in productivity, by attracting investment, supporting innovation, and delivering a Brexit deal to sustain UK competitiveness.
“The UK needs a step change in productivity to fully achieve our potential and put vital sectors of our economy on the right footing to compete around the world,” stated Everitt. “The Government elected in June will face economic challenges that it must work in partnership with industry to address if we are to achieve sustainable, long-term economic growth. A failure to prioritise productivity gains would put at risk the UK’s future ability to generate high value jobs and maximise the economic potential of our ingenuity.
“We need to see the development of an ambitious industrial strategy with full political and financial backing, support for SME investment in technologies and the latest advanced manufacturing processes, and prioritisation of innovation to make sure the UK benefits from the jobs, exports and growth that flow from new ideas.”
The five election priorities set out by ADS, the trade association for the aerospace, defence, security & space sectors, are: