Manufacturing in London

The London Assembly Economy Committee has written to the Mayor of London about the importance of manufacturing in London.

Currently the manufacturing sector employs over 100,000 people in London. These figures will increase further, as over 60 per cent of businesses in the latest manufacturing barometer have indicated they are looking to take on more staff and apprentices.

However there are considerable challenges facing the sector in terms of remaining and growing in London - lack of space for expansion, high property prices and a lack of skilled labour.

The Committee has identified a number of recommendations that the next mayor of London should consider:

• The next Mayor should bring together training providers and the manufacturing and design sector to create government certified apprenticeship schemes tailored to meet the needs of manufacturing businesses.
• The Mayor should review the extent to which manufacturing employment space is encouraged and prioritised in London’s Opportunity Areas, as set out in the London Plan.
• The LEP should make the application process for Growing Places funding more transparent. Requirements should be simplified in order to encourage more innovation in manufacturing.

Update: Following publication of the letter, a factual inaccuracy concerning Central Research Laboratory was corrected. The letter has been revised accordingly.