The planned loss of 900 jobs at Ellesmere Port is the best news I’ve heard in a long time for those interested in innovation. This event provides the catalyst for the kind of regeneration I’d like to see in the UK economy. Anything other than precision engineering is dead as a long term manufacturing option.
UK manufacturing is in its death throes. It’s a process I can trace back to 1983, the year my father was made redundant by the then Vauxhall Luton plant. My dad is a skilled toolmaker – which means he can beat most CNC machines for speed and accuracy. I’m very proud of my dad – as you can probably tell. On practical issues I’ve got 10 thumbs. Anyway.
- Economic hardship of this kind demands a government response. Chancellor (and perpetual PM prince in waiting) Gordon Brown has already been there blah blah’ing away. And so?
- Vendors and practitioners I work with could provide the immediate technical infrastructure to support a tech based revival – for very little money.
- I’d kickstart the content on interactive community websites at a minimal fee. The idea would be to encourage the community to tell government what it wants. It could work that out through the discussions on community blog sites. Anyone need a hand on this, I’m sure the PRs will jump in.
- I’d urge government to fast track entrepreneurial training. I’d support that through government interest free convertible loan stock. that means WE all have a stake on the potential economic success of OUR talent.
- I’d ask Microsoft to lob in a wedge plus some kitI
As an aside – Would you encourage your clients to accept higher local taxes to support such an initiative? Would you encourage clients to follow Niklas Zennstrom, billionaire co-founder of Skype’s advice: “If you’ve an idea, mortgage your house, leave your day job and follow your vision.” Looks like the day job’s going so…
Technorati Tags: innovation
