Showcase for manufacturing

This month, the Make it in Great Britain exhibition will open at the Science Museum to reveal British manufacturing at its best. The aim of the exhibition, part of the Make it in Great Britain campaign which the Secretary of State and I launched last November, is to raise awareness of the dynamic, advanced and innovative industry that exists in the UK today. Featuring companies such as Airbus, The Royal Mint, Amber Composites and Sunseeker, the six-week exhibition (which runs from 24 July to 9 September) is suitable for all ages. Among other things, the exhibits will allow visitors to find out about the manufacturing journey of a Mars bar 'from bean to bar'; discover the secrets behind McLaren's winning team; and vote for their favourite pre-market invention, to be crowned winner of the Make it in Great Britain Challenge. There will also be a chance for young people to learn about some of the fantastic career opportunities manufacturing has to offer in the Make it Your Future section of the exhibition. I hope that the exhibition, and its surrounding media activity, will shine a light on the industry that is worth approximately £137 billion a year and employs 2.5 million people, and demonstrates the capability of UK manufacturing, its creativity and competitive standing. Our aim is to attract lucrative investment and the brightest talent possible to enable Britain to continue excelling as one of the world's leading manufacturing nations. We believe that the Make it in Great Britain campaign and its exhibition can help to do this. It's sure to be an experience to remember. I call on everyone to come along to the Science Museum and see for themselves some of the greatest modern manufacturing innovations of today. To find out more, see http://makeitingreatbritain.bis.gov.uk/