'If we make the right decisions, why shouldn't we be optimistic?' - Midlands manufacturing boss shares his hopes and fears for the future of UK manufacturing

Tony Hague, CEO of PP Control and Automation who employ around 200 people from their Cheslyn Hay base, says he wants to see the Government invest in the UK's energy infrastructure in order to help turn the country's fortunes around - adding that the UK's manufacturing sector remained "incredibly resilient".

The company designs, builds and supplies control and automation systems that typically go onto industrial machinery, as well as and carrying out contract manufacturing for other firms. The firm has been based in Staffordshire for around 25 years.

Now, Mr Hague says his dealings with manufacturers up and down the country have left him in little doubt that the sector needs more help from government in order to succeed - but urged fellow manufacturers not to rely on the powers that be to make change happen.

"Right now the British manufacturing sector is not in the best place, fairly clearly," he said. 

"It's been a turbulent few years since 2020 for everybody. It's been up and down, and with all the issues we've had post covid with the supply chain that are getting cleared. It feels very sluggish and lathargic and I think we need a catalyst for growth. 

"Generally speaking, if UK manufacturing is doing well then our customers are pretty bouyant. If there's confidence in the market, if access to finance is agreeable, then end users will invest in new automation and new original equipment to go onto that line to produce for example food, and produce it quicker, faster better.

"If it's a bit more cautious out there and a bit more difficult which it has been recently, then you tend to find our customers will also be quiter, unless they're a niche market."

In late 2024, the Government unveiled a draft version of its proposed industrial strategy, which it says is a "credible, 10-year plan" to create industrial growth the the country.

At the heart of the strategy is a new set of industrial policies intended to focus proposals on growth sectors, as well as creating a "pro-business environment", with the government hoping to work with businesses, trade unions and experts.

And while Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the straegy would provide a "launchpad" for the country's industries, Mr Hague believes actions rather than words will count for more in the long term.

"The industrial strategy contains a lot of the things that we've all been talking about for a long time, but anyone can write a great strategy," he said. 

"The work on the industrial strategy is great, but we can have the best strategy in the world but I don't have a great deal of confidence in the ability [of Government] to execute it, and that's my concern. I just don't see it, but I hope I'm wrong and nothing would make me happier if I was.

"There's clearly a will and a want to turn the whole economy round, otherwise Labour are going to be a one term Government.

"We know what we need to do, and all the talk is there, but again we just want to see it.Those will give us some green shoots if we can see these projects actually starting to move, not just the really big ones that will take 5, 10 20 years to complete - an extra runway at Heathrow is brilliant but it's not going to do much for the rest of the economy right now.

"We're way too cautious, way too short term in our thinking, and I think that's been a UK issue for decades. We want certainty, we want short term results and returns on investments, and with some of these new technologies you have to accept a degree of uncertainty."

Now, Mr Hague says he wants to see a more and ambitious policy platform from the Government, with energy and infrastructure set to take centre-stage in his own company's future strategy. 

He says PP Control and Automation will continue to work on the organic growth of the business in growth markets as well as investing in the firm's Cheslyn Hay base, which has been extended three times over the past 25 years.

He added that several areas showed some promising signs of growth, but that they needed more help from Government in order to successfully scale-up.

"There are areas of growth - we're seeing a lot of new opportunities around clean energy, around agri-tech, so there are markets that are investing heavily and doing some really clever stuff but it's about the speed they'll scale at and that comes back to demand, and access to finance," he added.

"Everything ties back to energy and power, broadly speaking. The distribution network we have in the UK nowe is not fit for purpose, and it certainly isn't fit for the future, whether thats's EVs or the need for clean energy for general infrastucture projects or whether you start talking about the advance in the need for data centres wehich consume huge amounts of power. We just don't have it. 

"I've been in this role 24 years and in this sector since I left school as 16 year old apprentice which is about 40 years ago now! So I've seen enough ups and downs, I've seen the booms and the busts, so I'm always confident. 

"UK manufacturing is incredibily resilient, and it's incredibly innovative. I think the sluggishness that we have ourselves into, the UK can come out of it really well if we make the right decisions now. 

"I'm optimistic for this business clearly, and am I optimistic for UK manufacturing? Absolutely, but as long as we do the right things. If we make the right decisions then why shouldn't we be?"