The priorities - contained in a business manifesto 'Securing a Manufacturing Renaissance' launched today by EEF, the manufacturers' organisation at its national conference - outline how government must work consistently across departments, across all localities and with the UK's international partners to drive forward a programme for growth.
To achieve this, the UK government needed to punch its weight at the heart of a reformed and economically successful European Union, the EEF said.
EEF chief executive, Terry Scuoler (pictured), said: "While the last five years have been about recovery, the next five must be about delivering a better balanced economy. Some important groundwork has been laid and it is vital the next government builds on what has worked to date."
He added: "Achieving a true rebalancing of the economy, however, was never going to be easy. It will involve tough choices and will not happen over the lifetime of a single Parliament. It is vital therefore the next government recognises this and sets lofty ambitions to provide the long term certainty that is necessary for manufacturing businesses to invest recruit and grow in the UK."
According to EEF, there remains much to do to restore the public finances, improve productivity and secure real wage growth. In particular, the next government should set an ambition for measurable improvements in productivity relative to our international competitors, a step change in investment behaviour in the private sector and a marked improvement in the UK's trade performance.
EEF said it believed this could only be achieved by setting stretching goals and performance measures to ensure spending decisions delivered the best outcomes for business and the public.
It has therefore set the next government four ambitions - a more productive and flexible workforce based on training and investment in skills; improving infrastructure, in particular roads, air and rail links as well as thedigital infrastructure; reducing the cost of doing business from cutting energy costs to maintaining low business taxes and reducing red tape; and better support for growing businesses thatwant to innovate and expand in Britain and overseas.
