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Leading innovators in bespoke End-of-Arm Tooling (EOAT) solutions to optimise your production efficiency.

09/04/2026

The UK manufacturing sector continued to expand in March 2026, though at a slightly slower pace. The S&P Global Manufacturing PMI came in at 51.4, down from 51.7 in February, but still well above expectations of 50.1.

While the reading remains in expansion territory, it marks the weakest growth in the past three months. Output saw only modest gains, while new orders declined due to weaker domestic demand and reduced export activity.

Employment levels also dipped slightly, reflecting ongoing caution among manufacturers when it comes to hiring.

Cost pressures intensified during the month, with input prices rising at their fastest rate since October 2022. This increase was largely driven by higher energy costs, fuel prices, and more expensive transportation. In response, manufacturers also raised their selling prices.

Supply chain issues persisted, with roughly a quarter of firms reporting longer delivery times—indicating the most significant disruption in vendor performance since mid-2022.

Looking forward, business confidence has softened, as manufacturers face growing uncertainty linked to geopolitical tensions and continued cost pressures.

06/04/2026

South Yorkshire has introduced an ambitious long-term development strategy aimed at re-establishing the region as a leading centre for UK manufacturing. The Don Valley Corridor initiative is expected to generate £1.3 billion for the economy, create approximately 18,500 jobs, and deliver over 10,500 new homes.

The project, led by regional authorities including Mayor Oliver Coppard and local council leaders from Sheffield and Rotherham, spans a key industrial zone stretching from central Sheffield through Attercliffe and Tinsley to Rotherham.

Designed as a comprehensive 30-year framework, the plan combines industrial development, housing expansion, infrastructure investment, and skills growth. Its objective is to reconnect communities with economic opportunities while revitalising underutilised areas.

A model for this transformation can already be seen in Waverley, Rotherham, where a thriving advanced manufacturing cluster has been established. The area hosts major global players such as Boeing, Rolls-Royce, and McLaren Automotive, alongside new residential developments and community infrastructure.

The strategy focuses on strengthening advanced manufacturing and innovation, particularly through the Sheffield Innovation Spine—a continuous corridor linking research institutions with industrial production.

A key component includes the development of a new employment hub around the future Rotherham Gateway rail station, intended to support engineering, materials, low-carbon, and digital industries.

Infrastructure improvements are central to the plan, with proposals including expanded rail connectivity, tram extensions, improved road links, and enhanced flood protection systems.

Additionally, the initiative emphasises community involvement, aiming to ensure local residents benefit directly through job creation, skills development, and access to new opportunities.

The Don Valley Corridor is positioned not only as a regional regeneration effort but as a critical driver of national economic growth, highlighting the role of industrial clusters outside London and the South East in shaping the UK’s future economy.

28/03/2026

At Fox Precision Tooling, precision isn’t just a requirement it’s built into every movement, every detail, every solution.

Designed to perform. Built to last.

Proudly manufactured in the UK.

27/03/2026

A new report from PwC suggests that industrial manufacturers are rapidly increasing their investment in automation. According to the firm’s latest Global Industrial Manufacturing Sector Outlook, the proportion of manufacturers expecting to significantly automate key processes by 2030 is projected to rise from 18% today to around 50%.

The research surveyed 443 senior executives across 24 territories and concludes that the US$16 trillion global industrial manufacturing sector is entering a pivotal period. Technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and advanced digital systems are expected to reshape operations and unlock new opportunities for productivity and growth.

Ryan Hawk, who leads the industrials and services practice at PwC US, noted that the competitive landscape is changing quickly. He explained that the key advantage will no longer come from simply having access to technology, but from how quickly companies can implement and coordinate those tools across their operations.

According to Hawk, manufacturers that are already digitally advanced have a clear lead. Agile organisations that effectively integrate technology into their workflows are likely to pull further ahead of competitors that still rely on outdated or fragmented systems.

The report highlights a group PwC describes as “future-fit” companies—roughly the most agile and innovative 20% of manufacturers included in the survey. These companies currently report a median automation level of 29% across their processes, compared with 15% among other manufacturers.

Looking ahead to 2030, that gap is expected to widen. PwC forecasts that 65% of processes within future-fit companies will be highly automated, while other companies are projected to reach about 45%.

These leading manufacturers are also more likely to apply advanced technologies throughout their value chains.

For example:

46% of future-fit companies use advanced technology in product design and development, compared with 34% of other firms.

37% apply advanced technology in production and operations, versus 28% among other manufacturers.

14/03/2026

Starting 1 April, the UK government will remove tariffs on 33 industrial components used in offshore wind energy, a move expected to save British manufacturers millions of pounds annually.

The policy is designed to strengthen the UK’s offshore wind supply chain and accelerate investment in clean energy manufacturing.

What this means for industry:

Import tariffs on key materials used in turbine blades, rotors, cables and electrical systems will drop to 0% under an authorised-use procedure.

Manufacturers will be able to import components duty-free as long as they are used specifically in offshore wind production.

The change reduces production costs and enables companies to reinvest savings into scaling manufacturing capacity.

Context

The announcement follows the UK’s Contracts for Difference Allocation Round 7, which secured £22 billion in offshore wind investment and 8.4 GW of capacity—enough to power more than 12 million homes.

Offshore wind is already considered one of the most cost-effective renewable sources, with industry metrics suggesting it is around 40% cheaper to build and maintain than new gas generation projects.

Strategic angle

The measure reflects a broader shift toward aligning trade policy with industrial and climate strategy, ensuring manufacturers have access to critical components while strengthening the domestic clean-energy ecosystem.

For companies operating in the wind supply chain, this represents both a cost reduction and a signal of long-term government support for the sector.

13/03/2026

At Fox Precision Tooling, we engineer EOAT solutions designed to perform with the same instinctive accuracy found in nature.

Because the difference between working…

and working perfectly

is precision.

Proudly manufactured in the UK

foxprecisiontooling.co.uk

11/03/2026

The UK government is considering temporary subsidies to help manufacturers cope with high energy prices until long-term reforms reshape the country’s energy market, according to Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle.

Speaking at the Make UK National Manufacturing Conference in London, Kyle acknowledged that British manufacturers currently face some of the highest energy costs in Europe. He noted that wholesale electricity prices in the UK remain significantly higher than in the United States, placing domestic industry at a competitive disadvantage.

According to Kyle, structural reforms to the energy system will take time, meaning short-term support may be necessary. The government is therefore exploring subsidy mechanisms to ease the burden on energy-intensive industries while broader market changes are implemented.

Two programmes already form part of this effort: the British Industry Supercharger and the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme, both designed to support sectors with particularly high electricity consumption.
Kyle said he would prefer to accelerate the reforms but pointed out that legislative processes and consultations slow down the implementation of major policy changes.

He also addressed the recent surge in global energy prices following escalating tensions in the Middle East. In response to calls for greater reliance on North Sea oil and gas production, Kyle argued that expanding domestic fossil fuel extraction would not fully shield the UK from global market volatility.

Instead, he emphasised the government’s strategy of expanding renewable energy capacity. According to Kyle, increasing renewable generation is essential for strengthening national energy resilience and reducing exposure to geopolitical disruptions.

The government believes that a faster transition toward domestic renewable energy sources will help stabilise long-term energy costs while improving the UK’s economic and energy security.

Manufacturing remains a key pillar of the UK economy, and officials say improving the sector’s resilience is a strategic priority for both economic growth and national securit

09/03/2026

At Fox Precision Tooling, every component we manufacture reflects a commitment to accuracy, reliability, and consistency. From concept to final production, precision stands guard over every stage of the process.

Proudly manufactured in the UK.

🌐 foxprecisiontooling.co.uk

06/03/2026

On every factory floor, precision matters.

At Fox Precision Tooling, we believe the difference between good and exceptional production often comes down to the tools behind the process.

Because when the tooling is right, the whole factory runs sharper.

🌐 foxprecisiontooling.co.uk

01/03/2026

UK manufacturers are facing mounting pressure as persistently high energy costs threaten investment, growth and long-term competitiveness.

According to recent industry reporting, nearly 90% of UK firms have experienced rising energy bills over the past five years, with around 40% reducing or delaying investment as a direct result. Electricity prices for businesses remain significantly higher than pre-2022 levels, and UK industrial power costs continue to exceed many European competitors.

For manufacturers, energy is not a marginal expense it is a core input.

Elevated costs directly impact margins, capital expenditure decisions and expansion plans. In some cases, firms are reconsidering UK-based production altogether.

Business groups are now calling for urgent government action, arguing that current support mechanisms are too limited and fail to address the structural price gap between the UK and peer economies. Without a long-term strategy to stabilise and reduce industrial energy costs, the risk is clear: weaker investment pipelines, slower modernisation and potential relocation of production capacity.

The issue is not simply about short-term bills. It is about industrial strategy.

27/02/2026

At Fox Precision Tooling, precision isn’t just a metric it’s protected, engineered, and delivered with intent.

Proudly manufactured in the UK.
Built to guard your standards.

Address

Unit 26 Northedge Industrial Estate

DE214BN

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Tuesday	09:00 - 18:00
Wednesday	09:00 - 18:00
Thursday	09:00 - 18:00
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Telephone

+447368958155

Website

http://www.foxprecisiontooling.co.uk/, https://linktr.ee/foxprecisiontooling

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