The Covid-19 crisis and manufacturing: How should national and local industrial strategies respond?. (June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Harris, JL; Sunley, P; Evenhuis, E; Martin, R; Pike, A; Harris, R
• Other Names: Froy Francesca guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Local economy. Volume 35:Number 4(2020:Jun.)
• Page Start: 403
• Page End: 415
• Publication Date: 2020-06
• Subjects: advanced manufacturing -- Covid-19 -- grand challenges policy -- recession -- reshoring supply chains -- UK manufacturing -- UK policy; Great Britain -- Economic policy -- Periodicals; 330.941
• DOI: 10.1177/0269094220953528
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-0942

Abstract

The ongoing Covid-19 crisis and recession represent one of the biggest shocks to the UK manufacturing ecosystem yet, and comes at a time when the ecosystem was already in a worrying situation after decades of deindustrialisation, a decade of austerity and an impending 'Brexit'. The effects of this shock will also be unevenly felt due to the geography of the UK manufacturing ecosystem, amplifying the need for a successful response to ensure that places are not left (further) behind. This paper assesses the pre-Covid-19 ecosystem to ascertain the areas and industries likely to be particularly impacted by the crisis, and to understand existing issues. These issues are important to consider due to the implications for choosing strategies moving forward, for which two are appraised here. First, the reshoring of supply chains is considered in light of recent government comments, but difficulties in implementation may arise due to the highly fragmented nature of UK policy frameworks. Second, an acceleration of the 'grand challenges' approach is likely but limited by issues of connectivity in the ecosystem and small and medium-sized firm disengagement. We suggest that any strategy moving forward must strike a balance between such strategies