Every major economy has a robust domestic chemical industry, in today’s world this is increasingly important for the safe and continuous supply of critical materials to support our way of life.
Speaking after today’s King’s Speech, Steve Elliott Chief Executive of the Chemical Industries Association said:
“After election and all of the state formality, it is now time for the Government and Parliament to get on with their job. Chemical businesses who are amongst the Country’s biggest manufacturing exporters welcome the intentions on industrial strategy and eagerly await the detail. An industrial strategy with the chemical industry as a key supplier at its heart will mean jobs and spending power in regions of the country where they are critical to the environmental, social and economic progress.”
Steve added, ”We also look forward to more information on Great British Energy and what that can do for industrial customers as well as households. Business is the only source of economic growth, which is needed across the country. So, I hope that business is not sacrificed by being the exclusive recipient of any increased energy costs. The intention on resetting the relationship with the European Union for an improved trade and investment relationship is good news. We want to work with Government and all stakeholders to help make these key issues from the speech as effective for UK investment as they possibly can be”.
Every major economy has a robust domestic chemical industry, in today’s world this is increasingly important for the safe and continuous supply of critical materials to support our way of life. The Government’s missions of economic growth, net zero delivery and opportunity for all will find a key supplier in our sector.
Notes to editor:
For any further information please contact Simon Marsh MarshS@cia.org.uk 07951 389197 or Diana Tamayo Tamayod@cia.org.uk on 07885 831615.
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Businesses who make chemical products and solutions are integral to something like 96% of all manufactured goods. Whether it is ingredients for food and medicines; paints and coatings for cars and planes or materials for mobile phones and electric vehicle batteries, the chemical industry is truly the “industry of industries” – also playing a critical role in the nation’s response to Covid-19 through its supply of hand sanitiser, PPE and vaccine ingredients.
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The Association’s manifesto sets out a series of offers and asks for the Government.
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Chemical businesses are located throughout the UK, with many of them clustered together in the North East of England, North West of England and Central Scotland. These factories and laboratories, operated by a highly trained and skilled workforce, make a significant contribution towards the UK’s productivity performance.
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Roughly 140 thousand people are employed in the sector and nearly half a million have roles that are dependent on the sector. Chemical workers typically earn around 21% more than other manufacturing industries and almost 27% more than the average worker.
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From Runcorn to the Humber Bank; from Teesside to Grangemouth, chemical businesses and their employees right across the country are essential to the Government’s levelling-up agenda.
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We are the country’s second biggest manufacturing exporters, sending goods to the value of more than £60 billion to other countries. The EU represents our most important market, but we continue to work closely with Government to inform and secure UK trade deals with other key chemical markets such as Japan and the USA.
