Responding to the most recent Industrial Production data published on February 12, Engineering Employers Federation (EEF) chief economist Lee Hopley said he was encouraged that manufacturing was likely to have made a bigger contribution to growth in the economy than first thought. Admittedly, we are still some way below pre-recession levels, but Mr Hopley believes a strong performance at the end of last year across a broad range of sectors provides hope that there may be some momentum behind a recovery and moves towards a more balanced economy.
The timing of the production data release and Mr Hopley’s response neatly set the scene on a long-planned initiative of the Federation. Last week, it launched 'Manufacturing Week' (not to be confused with the now defunct annual NEC-based event), which will take place over five days at the beginning of March. Part of a campaign that has been running since the summer of 2009, Manufacturing Week is set to celebrate the success of the sector and promote the policies that hopefully will bring about a better balanced economy.
A series of regional and national events will be aimed at manufacturers, politicians of all parties, including prospective parliamentary candidates, the media and other key stakeholders. These will include regional debates and other events, as well as site visits to companies for sitting and prospective candidates, with the week culminating in the launch of EEF's Manufacturing Manifesto. According to the EEF’s announcement, this will “suggest refreshed policies to create an internationally competitive business environment for manufacturing and one that sends the right signals to would-be investors and a proactive agenda for growth.”
Just as importantly, the week-long campaign is also aimed at debunking the popular myth that the UK has lost its manufacturing base. A dedicated website will contain case studies of world leading companies, letters to prospective parliamentary candidates inviting them to visit facilities and show their support for the sector, plus downloadable facts and figures that put manufacturing’s contribution to the overall UK economy into sharp relief.
According to statistics quoted by the EEF, manufacturing generates 13.5% of the UK’s gross domestic product and was worth £13bn in 2009; it also generates 53% of all UK export earnings. Perhaps less well appreciated is the fact that the UK aerospace industry is the second largest in the world, is worth £17.9bn and employs over 100,000 highly skilled people.
EEF policy director, Steve Radley, reminds us that our over-reliance on financial services has been exposed during the recession and the shift to a more balanced economy will require the next government, of whatever colour, to think and act differently. “It's a huge task but we have to start now," he says.
Details of the week and the campaign can be found here
Inclusive design
While I got a bit of stick about the population statistics I quoted in one of my recent leaders, most of you who were moved to comment agreed fully with the tenor of the piece – that ‘inclusive design’ made a lot of sense. Well, I make no apology for raising the subject again, particularly in the light of new research from Synovate on the attitudes and habits of senior citizens using mobile phones and new consumer technologies.
The research, which was carried out on behalf of electronic communications specialist, Doro International, reveals that as many as 77% of senior citizens in the UK have access to a mobile phone, but 49% still feel intimidated and hesitant of new technology. The survey of 2,000 individuals across the USA and Europe also indicates that the use of mobile phones is continuing to grow amongst the UK’s senior citizens who used their mobile phone mostly to make calls (73%) and secondly for text messages (37%).
“Many seniors experience difficulties when handling technical products due to problems relating to sight, hearing, poor mobility and, indeed, limited dexterity,” says Doro’s Kjell Reidar Mydske. “We believe that seniors will call and use services to a much greater extent as soon as they possess a mobile phone developed with their needs in mind.”
Just as the rest of us, senior citizens differ from each other; the survey shows great differences between the countries, age groups and social background. There are interesting differences between the 65-74 and 75+ age groups. Nearly 90% of those in the age group 65-74 have a mobile phone, while only two-thirds of those in the age group 75+ have one.
There are also big differences between countries. The USA is in the front line (65%) when it comes to having a positive attitude to new technology, closely followed by Sweden (62%), Germany (62%) and the UK (44%). The French, on the other hand, have a more considered approach to new technology (39%).
Over a period of 90 years, average life expectancy in Europe has risen from 55 to just over 80 and the senior population is therefore sharply increasing. New technology is just one way of helping to improve quality-of-life during those senior years. Doro chief executive, Jerome Arnaud sys that his company’s long term goal in developing a range of mobile phones specifically for senior citizens is to improve the quality of their lives and encourage social engagement. “We want to make it easy for everyone to use modern technologies,” he says.
And now, to end with, are some more statistics. These are supplied by various Swedish organisations, which are credited at the end of this article.
●518,000,000 people in the world are 65 or older. The costs of pensions and health care in Europe are expected to triple by 2050.
●Within ten years, the group of people 65 and older is expected to make up 25% of the total population.
●Approximately 1.2 million Swedes and a total of approximately 37 million EU citizens (10% of the population) have some form of functional impairment.
●Functional disorders such as reduced vision, hearing, mobility and memory affect the lives of as many as 45% of all people aged 75 and older.
●Nearly 20% of men and nearly all women aged 75-84 have problems carrying or grasping things.
Les Hunt
Editor
●Sources:
Statistics on the elderly (Äldrestatistik) June 2008, Swedish Institute of Assistive Technology (Hjälpmedelsinstitutet). Ageing Well in the Information Society, 2007, Commission of the European Communities; 2007 Annual Report of the Swedish Association of Hard of Hearing People (HRF Årsrapport 2007); Guidelines for development programmes – technology for the elderly (Riktlinjer för utvecklingsprogram – Teknik för alder), 2007, Swedish Ministry of Health and Social Affairs (Socialdepartementet); Technical aids and adapting homes (Tekniska hjälpmedel och bostadsanpassning), 2007, Swedish Institute of Assistive Technology.