BCF members support launch of Surface Engineering Advanced Coatings Leadership Forum in Parliament

Representatives from the surface engineering and coatings sectors met with parliamentarians, academics and Lords to recognise the importance of the sector in driving manufacturing growth in the UK post-Brexit at a launch event in the House of Lords, hosted by Lord Whitby, President of the Surface Engineering Association.

The sector has ambitious plans to grow to £25bn by 2025 and in turn create more than 50,000 new jobs in British manufacturing.

BCF members present at the event include AkzoNobel, BASF, Fujichem Sonneborn, Indestructible Paint, Jotun Paints, Paint Services Group and Schloetter Company.

The BCF is one of six associations and professional bodies behind the initiative and will continue to support the important work of the leadership forum to stimulate a higher take up of apprenticeships; to ensure the sector maximises its relationships with academia and KTNs to deliver on innovation; and embrace digital manufacturing.

"Our goal is to promote to Government and wider stakeholders the importance and economic potential and impact of surface engineering, advanced coatings and materials finishing,” commented Tom Bowtell, CEO of the BCF at the launch event.

The sector is estimated to be worth £11bn to the UK economy today, with an indirect impact of £140bn on GDP.