The government’s £4.5bn investment plan aims to reboot British manufacturing, targeting sectors like aerospace, clean energy, and life sciences. But behind the headlines, output’s shrinking, orders are shaky, and half of firms have frozen hiring. While some are betting on automation and reshoring, others see a gamble in a world of tariff tantrums and talent shortages. The cash injection helps—but for many, it’s like patching a leaky roof in a thunderstorm.
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