Industry strong despite job losses, says boss

Doug Squires

THERE’S plenty of life in the city’s manufacturing industry.

That was according to businessman Doug Squires following the publication of figures by a trade union showing 4,400 jobs had been lost in the sector in Coventry in the past six years.

Some 119,000 jobs went across the whole of the West Midlands between 2006 and 2011, said the GMB.

The closure of Jaguar’s Browns Lane plant and Peugeot’s Ryton factory amounted for a large number of those jobs.

Mr Squires, who owns Squires Gear & Engineering, said: “The figures put out are not good, but there is some exciting stuff on the drawing board here in Coventry.

“I don’t see a return to the days of mass employment in engineering here with the Peugeots, Triumphs and the Massey Fergusons of this world but I do see a more well planned, world class manufacturing sector that will keep the West Midlands ahead of the game and still be a major source of employment.

“But we must be careful about talking ourselves down too much. We haven’t got what we used to have but there’s a good future if we grab opportunities when they come along.”

Mr Squires, a former president of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said his own firm was hopeful of winning what he described as a major contract with a UK firm which would see jobs created insisted.

And he said moves were being made to breath new life into the industry at the recently opened Manufacturing Technology Centre at Ansty Business Park and pointed to several firms in Coventry doing brisk business.

“Firms need good regular business, not matter how low in volume. There are many out there in Coventry and the West Midlands that have that and they should be applauded,” Mr Squires added.

“Companies are starting to see the benefits of making things in this country and are wondering if it’s worth sending work out to foreign countries with quality and delivery times not being met and with wages spiralling.

“The work going on at the new MTC is unbelievable.

“That is a £40million investment in manufacturing right here in Coventry with some real bright sparks already working up there. I also understand there are plans for an apprentice college up there too which is great news.”

THE Duke of York visited the MTC last week to see the work being done to try to reignite the country’s manufacturing industry.

He was given a tour of the new centre in Ansty which employs around 75 people in his role as the UK’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment.

The MTC opened late last year and is run by industry, universities and research and technology organisations with the University of Birmingham, University of Nottingham, Loughborough University and TWI Ltd as the founding research partners.

The three founding industry members are Rolls Royce, Airbus UK and Aero Engine Controls.

Its aim is to support manufacturing businesses in the aerospace, automotive, rail, healthcare and ICT sectors with plans in the pipeline for an apprentice college.

Chief executive Dr Clive Hickman, CEO said Prince Andrew’s visit would help to raise the profile of manufacturing and its increasing importance to the UK economy.