Call for UK industrial strategy to future-proof economy
The UK must develop a green industrial strategy around sustainability if it is to compete in the coming global economy.
This was one of the key points delivered by Troy Barratt, Managing Director of construction firm BAMUK Group, at an Energy and Tech Sustainability Expo held at Discovery Park in Kent in March.
Supporting the event were attendees from Canterbury Christ Church University, the University of Kent and University of Greenwich, Barclays Eagle Labs, Cummins, and Veolia.
Troy Barratt called for a UK industrial strategy to support growth to create a healthy and sustainable future economy.
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"If we make Net Zero our sole focus then we will deindustrialise and most of our emissions will end up elsewhere, he said.
"We need to restore and have a strategy of reindustrialisation if we are to have a prosperous future.
"We need a green industrial strategy which develops technology with the universities scaling it."
Troy pointed to the United States with its Inflation Reduction Act, aimed at protecting green technology, as an an example that would be followed by an increasing number of countries.
China has long held an industrial strategies to support its green industries while the European Union is working through its own approach.
He said: "We do have the ability to play the game smarter and harder as the UK still leads the world in advanced research. We have the top four universities in the world here which are supported by research centres around the world.
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"We must insist government sort out European Union exports as we need a large home market. The UK market just is not big enough."
David Philipson, Programme Manager at Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, who also spoke at the event, said the Channel seabed was one of the world's best resources for tidal energy.
"The economic opportunity is profound, he said.
"The industry is worth £76bn globally and the UK could grab between £19bn to £25bn of that industry.
"The UK is a world leader in this technology and we are way ahead of everyone else.
"The Channel is a clean and naturally occurring resource and if we were to build out capacity we could deliver 11 per cent of UK’s electricity supply.
"This could create 22,000 jobs across the UK supply chain in remote environments that are home to communities that have lost industry."
