“We need a long term plan for industry that includes steel” says Professor Sir Keith Burnett

31 March 2016

Professor Sir Keith Burnett, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield, has called for steel to be considered as part of Britain’s long term ‘national purpose.’

Speaking this morning, Sir Keith said:

“We need a long-term plan for industry that includes steel in the United Kingdom and the Government will have to take action.

“Steel is a core aspect of what we make and how we make it. It generates jobs, and it generates long term national security. Are you always going to buy your systems from elsewhere? No, you need steel.”

Speaking about the global and European markets, Sir Keith also spoke about the need to maintain strong national purpose while still interacting competitively. He said:

We need a long-term plan for industry that includes steel in the United Kingdom and the Government will have to take action.

Professor Sir Keith Burnett

“We’re interacting with countries like China that have strong national purpose and we must maintain ours. Steel is a test for Europe. If you make competition the only touchstone then you let down your citizens and long-term economic stability.

“There is an option to trade internationally while still protecting Britain’s interests. The University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre has already tried and tested methods that promote Britain’s advanced manufacturing prowess globally at the same time as reshoring manufacturing and developing the skilled workforce of the future.”

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Additional information

AMRC

The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre with Boeing (AMRC) is a world-class centre for research into advanced manufacturing technologies used in the aerospace, automotive, medical and other high-value manufacturing sectors. For more information, visit AMRC.

Nuclear AMRC

The Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (Nuclear AMRC) is a collaboration of academic and industrial partners from across the civil nuclear manufacturing supply chain, with the mission of helping UK manufacturers win work at home and worldwide.

The Nuclear AMRC brings together the experience and resources of industry leaders with the expertise and innovation of leading universities. For more information, visit: Nuclear AMRC.