The following information concerning COVID-19 measures has been provided by Make UK. Further information and resources can be found on the Make UK website
PPE and other support to fight Covid-19
This week we have seen a fresh call for manufacturers to help with the Government response to coronavirus. The support needed includes:
- Testing medical equipment
- Design of medical equipment
- Production of PPE
- Providing warehouse space
- Assistance with transport and logistics
- See full list for details
Offer of support should be registered online via this new portal: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-support-from-business
Please encourage members to log their offers here and wait to hear from the Government.
March PMI Data – published yesterday
Commenting on the PMI data yesterday, Seamus Nevin, Chief Economist at Make UK, the manufacturers’ organisation, said:
“Today may be April Fool’s Day but this result is no joke. A PMI score of 47.8 amidst the ongoing Covid19 outbreak is a sign of just how hard manufacturers have been hit.
“Many firms have had to shut and lots of those that remain open have seen orders or output suffer. Others have switched to making products that are vital to the national attempt to stop the spread of the virus; a testament to why backing manufacturing is so important.
“At the start of this year manufacturing companies reported unprecedented optimism about investment and trade but that had all been swept away by current events. With estimates suggesting up to a fifth of smaller firms could go out of business in the next few months Coronavirus has highlighted the need to maintain and develop our domestic manufacturing base. The Chancellor has rightly intervened to help but even still costs are going up. A 6.2% increase in the national living wage came into effect this morning. With expectations of further restrictions and economic disruption to come Business optimism is that a record low and may continue to worsen in the months ahead”
COP 26
The Government has confirmed that COP 26, due to take place in Glasgow this coming November, has been postponed. This decision was been taken by representatives of the COP Bureau of the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), with the UK and its Italian partners. Dates for a rescheduled conference in 2021, hosted in Glasgow by the UK in partnership with Italy, will be set out in due course following further discussion with parties. The Government stated that rescheduling will ensure all parties can focus on the issues to be discussed at this vital conference and allow more time for the necessary preparations to take place. They added they will continue to work with all involved to increase climate ambition, build resilience and lower emissions.
Secretary of State for the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and COP 26 President, Alok Sharma, said:
“The world is currently facing an unprecedented global challenge and countries are rightly focusing their efforts on saving lives and fighting COVID-19. That is why we have decided to reschedule COP26.
“We will continue working tirelessly with our partners to deliver the ambition needed to tackle the climate crisis and I look forward to agreeing a new date for the conference.”
UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa said:
“COVID-19 is the most urgent threat facing humanity today, but we cannot forget that climate change is the biggest threat facing humanity over the long term.
“Soon, economies will restart. This is a chance for nations to recover better, to include the most vulnerable in those plans, and a chance to shape the 21st century economy in ways that are clean, green, healthy, just, safe and more resilient.
In the meantime, we continue to support and to urge nations to significantly boost climate ambition in line with the Paris Agreement.”
