British manufacturers still planning green improvements
Make UK finds that 8 out of 10 manufacturers want to build green technology improvements in the next five years.
Their report, Manufacturing a sustainable future – capitalising on green technologies, finds that amid calls to row back on UK net-zero ambitions, manufacturers are more committed than ever.
In their previous survey, Driving industrial energy efficiencies, they found that more than 92% of companies believe the transition to net-zero is important for their business.
Make UK says barriers remain, particularly that investments in energy-efficient technologies like solar panels or low-carbon heating face higher rateable values, which penalises companies by increasing the value of their factories and business rates.
The trade association is urging the government to use the Budget to remove such investments from business rates calculations, given that 4 in 10 companies say this is holding back green technology investment. And is a greater barrier than the cost of energy - which was 41%.
The manufacturing members organisation says industrial energy costs are four times higher in the the UK than the US, nearly two-thirds higher than France and 25% more than Germany. And the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme is not due to be enacted until 2027, and it remains to be seen how long it is.
