Adapting the manufacturing sector for a brighter future: new approaches to energy resilience among SMEs

In this latest Civitas publication, Dr Jim McConologue and Aaryaman Banerji look into energy
resilience among SME manufacturers in the UK.
The importance of SMEs within the manufacturing sector and across the UK economy should not be
overlooked. There are 244,140 manufacturing businesses across the UK providing just over 2.5
million jobs. 99.5% of those businesses, just under 243,000, are SMEs.
For many businesses across the country, this current period spells the dawn of a new era, whereby
energy risks becoming not only too expensive, but dependent upon an infrastructure over which
they have little control.
It is a particularly pressing threat to the UK's manufacturing sector, much of which relies on large
amounts of consistently supplied energy to power its processes, at an affordable rate. The solution
advanced by respondents to this research report suggested a cooled, more adaptable approach: one
of 'net zero realism' - meaning we can still achieve environmental aims through boosting business
and growth plans.
In order to investigate SME manufacturer's views on costs, energy supply, disruptions and resilience,
researchers at Civitas spoke to manufacturers to get their views. These conversations uncovered a
series of views on energy security, moving to renewable energy sources and efficiency measures put
in place to reduce energy usage. ?
McConologue and Banerji respond with a ten point plan for supporting the SME manufacturing
sector through a period of rising energy costs to help them measure output and secure their supply
of energy. Among the recommendations are proposals to provide greater support tailored to SME
manufactures as well as larger tax incentives to encourage investment.
 
In this latest Civitas publication, Dr Jim McConologue and Aaryaman Banerji look into energy
resilience among SME manufacturers in the UK.
The importance of SMEs within the manufacturing sector and across the UK economy should not be
overlooked. There are 244,140 manufacturing businesses across the UK providing just over 2.5
million jobs. 99.5% of those businesses, just under 243,000, are SMEs.
For many businesses across the country, this current period spells the dawn of a new era, whereby
energy risks becoming not only too expensive, but dependent upon an infrastructure over which
they have little control.
It is a particularly pressing threat to the UK's manufacturing sector, much of which relies on large
amounts of consistently supplied energy to power its processes, at an affordable rate. The solution
advanced by respondents to this research report suggested a cooled, more adaptable approach: one
of 'net zero realism' - meaning we can still achieve environmental aims through boosting business
and growth plans.
In order to investigate SME manufacturer's views on costs, energy supply, disruptions and resilience,
researchers at Civitas spoke to manufacturers to get their views. These conversations uncovered a
series of views on energy security, moving to renewable energy sources and efficiency measures put
in place to reduce energy usage. ?
McConologue and Banerji respond with a ten point plan for supporting the SME manufacturing
sector through a period of rising energy costs to help them measure output and secure their supply
of energy. Among the recommendations are proposals to provide greater support tailored to SME
manufactures as well as larger tax incentives to encourage investment.