Industry chief welcomes promise on UK jobs – Lancashire Evening Post

A North West industry chief has welcomed Prime Minister David Cameron’s vow to “re-shore” Britain and stop the drift of jobs overseas.

Mr Cameron is launching a drive to reverse the trend of “offshoring”, which has seen thousands of British jobs shifted to low-cost countries in the East over recent years.

Darrell Matthews, North West Region Director of EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, said: “It’s positive to hear the Prime Minister talking about the importance of industry again. Recent evidence that companies are choosing to bring activity back to the UK is really positive and to be encouraged. For companies looking to get the best input from their suppliers and collaborate with customers, the UK has some real strengths.”

Cheap energy from shale gas and a pro-business regulatory climate could be the keys to attracting firms to move posts back to the UK and make Britain the “re-shore nation”, Mr Cameron believes.

According to Government figures, 1,500 manufacturing jobs have come back to the UK since 2011, and Business Secretary Vince Cable has launched a new service called Reshore UK to help firms which want to do the same.