Leonardo owns Britain's last military helicopter manufacturing site, employing 3,000 workers, and was the only bidder for the contract. It is understood that the chancellor and prime minister chose to intervene to ensure the project would go ahead, in part to protect UK jobs.
According to a recent report from digital transformation and industrial automation provider Rockwell Automation, the UK already leads Europe in smart manufacturing, with 53% of its manufacturers using AI on the factory floor and 98% overall planning to implement it. This compares to a global average of 41% introducing AI and machine learning (ML), as well as 95% planning to implement.
The head of British luxury brand Mulberry has called on the government to reinstate VAT-free shopping for international tourists, warning that the "unfair" tax burden is stifling investment and driving wealthy shoppers away from the UK. Chief executive Andrea Baldo said the move would help revitalise Britain's luxury and retail sectors - which have been hit hard by declining visitor spending since the 2021 abolition of the VAT rebate for overseas visitors - while boosting UK manufacturing and tourism revenues.
The government is weighing extraordinary measures to shield Britain's manufacturing base from the fallout of Jaguar Land Rover's crippling cyberattack, including buying up parts from suppliers to prevent mass job losses. Business Secretary Peter Kyle is understood to be considering a scheme where ministers would purchase parts from JLR's 700-strong supplier network and sell them back once production resumes. The move comes after a hack on 31 August forced JLR, owned by India's Tata Motors, to freeze output across plants in the UK, Slovakia, Brazil and India.
