A key driver of productivity is, of course, people. Our employees need to be highly skilled, motivated and ready to learn new ways of working and new capabilities, whatever their age. At EEF we are working with government to develop a new national college for manufacturing, which alongside other institutions, will train the experts who will drive our economy towards the kind of global powerhouse we dream of. These are the sort of initiatives that are needed to help boost our nation's record on productivity long into the future.
Some of the measures announced in the last budget will encourage further innovation and research and development, especially support for world-class technologies and easier access to research and development tax credits for small firms.
All parties, however, must embrace long-term planning for our economy and our industrial future. So these are my top priorities for whoever is our next Prime Minister
First, if it isn't broken please don't try to fix it. We have elements of an industrial strategy in place which have, to date, successfully supported sectors of manufacturing and held them to thrive, the most obvious example being the car industry. We have funding in place for centres which specialise in supporting innovation between industry and our top universities. We have commitments to put employers in the driving seat on apprenticeships so that they buy the training necessary ensure we have the most skilled employees. The government is boosting support for exporters to improve our trade performance. In essence, a new administration must avoid the temptation to tinker with what's working well.
Second, government can make it much easier to do business by ensuring we have world-class infrastructure. Despite considerable promises, one of the blemishes on the coalition's school report would be a failure to deliver significant improvements in our infrastructure, especially our strategic road network.
Third, red tape. I recently spent time in Brussels with the Commission vice president, Frans Timmermans. He is on a mission to persuade the EU to do less. The implication being that everything the EU does should be about supporting growth, jobs and an industrial renaissance. He has taken a lead on this from the British example and I hope a new British government will keep cutting red tape.
Finally, we may or may not be about to engage in a referendum on Britain's future in Europe. Manufacturing businesses large and small couldn't be clearer that Britain's continuing membership of the EU creates vital jobs and wealth. That is why Britain must throw its full weight behind helping the EU bring home a trade deal with the US, which would unlock billions of pounds worth of opportunities for British business.
This is where all our politicians' energies should be focused. Sniping about Brussels is easy, but won't win business for Britain.
