SMMT News

Automotive Council reaffirms commitment to strengthening supply chain

20 September 2012 #SMMT News

This morning, Richard Parry-Jones, Co-Chair of the Automotive Council, outlined the significance of the Council’s work in strengthening and growing the UK’s £4.8 billion supply base.

In his presentation to more than 300 automotive delegates at today’s SMMT Open Forum, he detailed how the Automotive Council is shaping government thinking on a number of key issues pertinent to UK suppliers including access to finance, enhancing skills and the emergence of new technologies.

As one of the UK’s most successful examples of industry-government collaboration, the Automotive Council is crucial in ensuring industry can ‘move forward through the barriers it faces’, securing prosperity for the long-term.

Jon Beasley from GKN, and Automotive Council Technology Group member, identified the five key work streams of the Group and the ‘sticky technologies’ that will play a key role in the future of UK automotive. There are more than 60 automotive companies actively involved in the Group, intent on facilitating solutions that will help UK component manufacturers access the new opportunities arising from the uptake of newer, more sophisticated technologies.

Michael Mychajluk from Jaguar Land Rover, and Automotive Council Supply Chain Group member, concluded the session, summarising that to grow the automotive supply chain the UK must increase its competiveness, find new entrants and invest in the up-skilling of the UK’s supplier workforce.

Mr Mychajluk said, “There is strong momentum in the Automotive Council to create the right business environment for the supply base. Although there is still a long way to go, there is a strong opportunity to drive the supply chain forward and bring business back here to the UK.”

For more information about activities taking place today at SMMT’s Open Forum event, click here.

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