Chancellor of the Exchequer visits Coventry-based Manufacturing Technology Centre

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt has visited the Coventry-based Manufacturing Technology Centre as part of the Government's national Business Connect programme.

Accompanied by more than 50 captains of British industry, he discussed the importance of advanced manufacturing to the UK economy.

The visit agenda included presentations from the Chancellor, ministers and the MTC chief executive Graham Hoare, round table discussions with industry leaders, and a visit to the world-class MTC training centre and apprentice workshop, which was one of the reasons the MTC was chosen as a venue.

The Chancellor was joined by the Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, the Rt Hon Chloe Smith MP, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, George Freeman MP, Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation, and Nusrat Ghani MP, Minister for Industry and Economic Security.

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Audience members included CEOs and senior executives from some of the UK's biggest businesses including Rolls-Royce, JLR, BMW UK, Unipart, Airbus, GE and the SMMT.

Welcoming the group, Graham Hoare said: "We were thrilled to display our world-class facility to what are the household names in British industry.

"We are immensely proud of the role we play in growing UK manufacturing, whether working across sectors from aerospace and defence to transport and agritech, to developing technologies, including cutting-edge digital automation and robotics, I was particularly pleased to see the Chancellor engage with a number of our apprentices, who are the future of the sector.

"We look forward to hearing the output from the many discussions that took place and for manufacturing to remain front and centre of the Treasury's priorities."

He said advanced manufacturing was vital for jobs, productivity, sustainability, growth and sovereign capability, and the global context of major government subsidies to industry in the US and EU emphasised the need for action in the UK to ensure the country remains internationally competitive.

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The Chancellor said: "Advanced manufacturing is one of our most successful sectors and key to driving UK growth, which is why I want to make sure we're removing any barriers that might be holding business back."

David Grailey, managing director of MTC Training said, "There is a rigorous selection process in place to join the MTC Training programme, including our apprenticeships and it is a privilege to work among these bright young minds.

"We have the opportunity to work with some of the biggest engineering companies in the UK and are in constant dialogue to reflect their developing requirements, whether in electrification, digital engineering or other areas.

"Our apprentices demonstrate much more than pure engineering skill. They are confident, engaged and enthusiastic about their work, which was clear to see as I watched them speak to the Chancellor and his colleagues.

"I genuinely believe that these young men and women will lead our industries of the future, whatever they may be. I am sure the ministers to home a vision of what training, upskilling and re-skilling should look like, and with more opportunities such as these we have a bright future ahead."