From its base in Liverpool's Knowledge Quarter, the MTC supported the inquiry into skills and innovation, infrastructure, housing and transport, and transition to a net zero economy.
The MTC has backed calls for investment in a National Centre of Excellence for Modern Methods of Construction. As a key member of the Construction Innovation Hub, the MTC believes that developing and using modern manufacturing techniques will play a key role in improving and increasing the region's housing stock and help the drive to reach net zero carbon.
The Liverpool City Region APPG report, which has been presented to Government ahead of the Chancellor's Spending Review, is aimed at levelling up the region, recovering from the pandemic and delivering clean, green and inclusive growth. The report presents Liverpool City Region's priorities in skills, innovation, infrastructure, transport, housing and net zero carbon.
The MTC's director of the North West, Dr Charlie Whitford, speaking to the inquiry, supported its ambitions:
"Many of the priorities of this report align with the strategic priorities of the MTC, in particular the drive for skills and innovation, and the need to improve and decarbonise poor quality housing stock through modern methods of construction, many of which are being developed by the MTC and its partners,"
He added, "With the number of challenges currently facing the housing sector, the National Centre of Excellence for Modern Methods of Construction proposal supports the Government’s ambition to drive higher design and production quality for housing by accelerating the uptake of digital and manufacturing-led construction.
"In addition to housing benefits, there is an opportunity to provide the supply chain with the tools and capabilities to deliver in sectors with high market confidence. With demand for modern approaches at scale, there is the opportunity to inspire young people into these sectors with the introduction and demand for digital, green and clean assembly based skills at all levels."
The MTC is part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, supported by Innovate UK, and was established to prove innovative manufacturing processes and technologies in an agile environment in partnership with industry, academia and other institutions. Housing some of the most advanced manufacturing equipment in the world, and with facilities in the Liverpool City Region, the Midlands and the South East, the MTC provides a high quality environment for the development and demonstration of new technologies on an industrial scale, supporting skills, productivity and growth across the UK manufacturing industry.
