EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, has appointed one of the UK’s most senior industrialists as its new president.
Alan Wood CBE, chief executive of Siemens UK plc, takes up his two-year post with immediate effect.
Wood said he was delighted to take on the role at such a challenging time for manufacturing and said he would work to emphasise the importance of innovation, investment, labour market flexibility and skills.
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“Manufacturing remains a vital contributor to a modern economy,” he said. “We must create a positive future for the sector and promote policies that enable our core businesses to remain and thrive in the UK.”
Latest government figures showed an unexpected increase of 0.9% in manufacturing output across the whole of UK industry in April following two months of decline.