IOM3 Message to the Chancellor: put materials at the heart of the UK’s growth ambitions
Ahead of the Autumn Budget, IOM3 sets out three practical actions to strengthen the UK's long-term economic and industrial success.
The decisions taken in the Autumn Budget will shape the UK's ability to deliver growth, strengthen resilience and compete internationally. As the professional membership body for materials, minerals and mining, IOM3 is calling on Government to recognise the foundational role of materials and minerals capability in achieving these ambitions.
The Government has set ambitious priorities: building 1.5 million homes, strengthening national defence, expanding clean energy, improving infrastructure and growing advanced manufacturing. Delivering them will depend on the materials, minerals, technologies and skilled people needed to make them possible.
The scale of the opportunity is significant.
2.3 million Construction workforce jobs
£82 billion Advanced manufacturing GVA
£45 billion UK materials innovation sector GVA
635,000 People employed in the UK materials innovation sector
Materials underpin the UK's growth, housing, energy, infrastructure and defence ambitions.
Ahead of the Autumn Budget, IOM3 is calling on Government to take three actions:
1. SECURE MATERIALS
Publish and fund a UK Materials Strategy.
The UK cannot deliver industrial growth, advanced manufacturing, defence resilience, energy security and net zero without a coherent approach to materials.
Government should:
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Publish a UK Materials Strategy.
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Establish a cross-government implementation programme.
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Back the strategy with long-term investment in research, innovation and industrial adoption.
A coordinated strategy, that builds on the Henry Royce Institute-led National Materials Innovation Strategy and spans responsible sourcing, processing, innovation, manufacturing and end of life management, would strengthen supply chain resilience, support competitiveness and improve productivity.
2. BUILD RESILIENCE
Accelerate the Circular Economy.
The circular economy is more than an environmental ambition - it is an economic growth opportunity.
Government should:
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Publish the long-awaited Circular Economy Growth Plan as soon as possible.
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Invest in resource efficiency, reuse and recycling infrastructure.
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Support innovation in materials recovery, remanufacturing and secondary materials markets.
A more circular economy can improve productivity, strengthen domestic supply chains, reduce dependence on imported materials and retain greater value from materials within the UK economy.
3. DEVELOP SKILLS
Invest in materials, minerals and mining skills.
Delivering a UK Materials Strategy and a successful circular transition depends on a highly skilled workforce.
Government should:
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Develop an evidence-led strategic skills and workforce planning programme.
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Protect and build strategically important education and training pathways.
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Support continuing professional development in strategically important sectors.
Skills shortages remain one of the greatest constraints on growth. Investment in strategic education and training pathways, skills transferability and lifelong learning will help build the workforce needed to deliver the UK's industrial ambitions.
If the Government wants to build a stronger, more resilient and more competitive economy, it must invest in the materials capability that underpins every national priority.
Growth, security and resilience all depend on materials.
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