The reappearance of an industrial strategy after a six-year absence is a welcome and long-overdue step. The detail needs scrutinising, especially on energy but now we have something, let growth be incentivised and see if we can rescue at least some of the 200,000 job losses that have happened in the period without one.

 

In a major step forward, following our engagement with Government we are pleased to see that chemicals have been recognised in the industrial strategy to be “at the core of Advanced Manufacturing underpinning all domestic manufacturing.”

On driving down energy costs, Government has today taken a step forward in reducing energy costs opposite those faced by our competitors. The commitment to strengthen and retain the British Supercharger package for our most energy intensive business, alongside the inclusion of chemical businesses under the newly announced British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme sends the right signal. Whilst there is much more to do and details of the scheme will be key in determining whether they boost industrial competitiveness, we will be working hard to ensure all chemical businesses can benefit from the interventions announced today.

We encourage Government to continue to engage with us in constructive dialogue to ensure that this strategy translates into real world competitiveness, sustainable growth and a renewed role for UK chemical manufacturing as an engine of economic resilience.

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