News October/November 2025 www.pwemag.co.uk Plant & Works Engineering | 07 Every year, Make UK does a survey on investment trends in manufacturing. The results of the 2025 survey are especially noteworthy as it shows the announcement of a long term industrial strategy is set to bring immediate benefits to the UK economy, with more than a third of manufacturers saying they will now accelerate investment projects as a direct response. In addition, the positive commitments the Government has made in the Advanced Manufacturing Plan are highlighted by the fact that three quarters of companies believe they will benefit directly from it. The figures will provide a timely boost in the run up to the Budget as investment intensity (investment as a % of turnover) has dropped sharply in the last year in response to domestic and overseas uncertainty and is now the lowest since the immediate aftermath of the EU referendum at 6.8%. This is down significantly from last year when it reached a ten-year high of 8.1%. R&D intensity has also fallen slightly to 6.2% from 6.5% last year. As a result, in the run up to the forthcoming Budget, Make UK will be urging the Government to not just safeguard vital investment incentives which the survey shows are key drivers of manufacturers’ investment decisions but, extend them further. According to the survey, almost four in ten companies (37%) make their investment decisions based on the availability of tax reliefs. Furthermore, Make UK is also urging the Government to set in stone the business tax relief policy for the remainder of this Parliament given almost a third of companies (31.8%) say frequent changes to tax relief policy are acting as a barrier to investment. As well as analysing the impact of Government policy, the survey also provides a comprehensive view of investment trends across UK manufacturing. The announcement of an industrial strategy being specifically used to drive investment in decarbonisation by more than 4 in 10 companies (43.%). Investment in data analytics and AI (35.4%) and increased manufacturing capacity (34.2%) are a priority for around a third of companies. Skills has overtaken plant and machinery as the leading investment priority in the next twelve months (47.6% and 44.1% respectively). Amid the ongoing debate about the investment performance of UK industry compared to international competitors, almost two thirds of companies (68%) invest up to 10% of their turnover in plant and machinery, with a further fifth (18%) investing between 10% and 50%. Furthermore, more than two thirds of companies (68%) invest up to 10% of turnover in R&D, while almost one in five (18%) invest between 10% and 50%. Despite the overall encouraging picture, it’s clear that manufacturing investment is at a critical juncture. It’s therefore essential that the Government does all it can to focus on growth and investment as a matter of urgency. By MAKE UK chief executive, Stephen Phipson MAKE uk - the manufacturers’ organisation monthly news comment questions from the audience. In the afternoon, Dr Paul Bedford presented on staff retention, highlighting generational differences in workplace expectations and the need to reflect these in recruitment and retention strategies. A Women in Engineering Power Hour provided a forum for female members to discuss findings from a recent survey on their experiences in the sector and to explore how the AEMT can better support women in the future. Simultaneously, Karl Metcalf, AEMT Lead Trainer and Technical Advisor, hosted a Condition Monitoring panel with Will Ocean (Maintain Reliability), Matt Fletcher (Fletcher Moorland) and Fernando Velloso (WEG). The group discussed the growing importance of condition monitoring, integration with planned maintenance, and the potential role of artificial intelligence. The final session saw AEMT Council members Andy Patten and James Stevens provide an update on discussions with the Electrical Apparatus Service Association (EASA) regarding potential collaboration between the two organisations. This was followed by a presentation from Frédéric Beghain, General Manager of EASA’s Europe, Asia and Africa Chapter, outlining EASA’s work and the benefits it offers members. Reflecting on the day, AEMT General Manager Thomas Marks commented: “I’m delighted with what the team has been able to deliver for our members here today, it was a fitting recognition of the Association’s 80th anniversary. It is important that we recognise the immensely positive impact our Association has had in its eight decades as we look to what promises to be an exciting and rewarding future for its membership.”
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