What is the Manufacturing Barometer?
A quarterly survey, exclusively for small and medium-sized (SME) manufacturers, to uncover past performance and future expectations across the sector, allowing us to map these core trends over time. In addition, our 'Special Focus' asks questions around a different topic of interest each quarter, to further understand the specific impact it may have on these businesses.

How is this information used?
We document this valuable data as a quarterly report that is shared with national and regional government representatives to help call for future sector support that addresses the needs of SME manufacturers.  

Thank you to the 298 SME businesses who contributed to this quarter's report - each and every response helps to build an accurate picture of the UK's manufacturing industry.

Special Focus: Employee Engagement through Times of Change
This quarter we wanted to understand how current conditions are affecting trade for SME manufacturers, and find out if new ways of working due to COVID-19 will lead to any positive changes for these businesses and their employees. In addition to recording trends, opportunities, challenges, and confidence levels, this quarter's report also reveals that: 

• Although 80% of businesses have utilised the government’s furlough scheme at some point in the last year, only 37% are still using it today

• 48% of respondents now expect to return to, or exceed, their pre-COVID-19 position within three months

• Going forward, 42% of the business leaders questioned are now planning to offer their employees some level of remote working (up 28% from the number who were offering this before the pandemic began)

The full report can be accessed below...

Q4 2020 Manufacturing Barometer - National Report.pdf