Business Secretary Vince Cable has recently visited the Science Museum in London, opening the Make it in Great Britain Exhibition which takes place for six weeks during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

It is the culmination of the Government’s Make it in Great Britain campaign which is run by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). The campaign and exhibition aims to show young people the rewarding career opportunities available in British Manufacturing, dispelling the myth that the UK ‘doesn’t make anything anymore’. The exhibition features businesses of all sizes, including iconic brands like McLaren, Mars and Rolls Royce, as well as displays from up and coming inventors.

Manufacturing is a vital part of the UK’s economy, employing 2.5 million people and generating £137bn each year. The government is running campaigns like this in order to attract the new talent which is needed to support the industry in the long term. An essential strategy, as jobs would almost certainly be moved abroad in the future if we cannot provide a skilled workforce.

The good news for British Manufacturing is that 40% of companies are now bringing production back in-house. A report published by EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation cites reasons such as recession and natural disasters to be amongst some of the influences behind these decisions.

This gives Britain a real window of opportunity to build the manufacturing industry back up, which would aid in generating some of the sustainable growth needed to pull us out of the recession. The manufacturers surveyed had already reported seeing benefits that included reduced costs and improved flexibility.

If we can encourage our young people to consider careers in manufacturing, attend college courses or look at the various apprenticeships on offer then Great Britain could flourish in this difficult economic climate.

For more information, please visit http://makeitingreatbritain.bis.gov.uk