A NEW Automotive Academy to bring out the best in Britain's car manufacturers is part of a £45 million boost for the industry announced by the Government.
Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt was yesterday unveiling the long-awaited strategy for UK manufacturing which aims to increase productivity to the levels of France, Germany and the US.
The move was welcomed by trade union leaders who have been warning for some time that the Government was not doing enough to promote the manufacturing sector. The academy will allow Britain's top car engineers and manufacturers to share and perfect the latest design expertise and world-beating production techniques.
Ms Hewitt said: "The automotive manufacturing industry is a key part of the UK economy. It includes many world-class businesses and employs nearly a quarter of a million workers.
"But, as the report makes clear, we need to do more to ensure that the UK industry is well-placed to compete in the future.
"And today with the publication of our strategy for manufacturing, I am setting out why UK manufacturing is so important."
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