Prospects for industry and manufacturing in Devon in 2020

Although Devon is globally known for its stunning landscapes and tourist attractions, it is also home to several key manufacturing businesses that rely on the innovative nature of the counties population.

These manufacturers span across multiple specialisms including navigation, electronics, transportation and communication. With the Royal Navy also having a key site based in Plymouth the area also claims significant manufacturing prowess in the naval engineering, architecture and manufacturing space. 

2020 is set to be a challenging year for all industries. In this article, we take a look at the prospects for manufacturing and industry in Devon in 2020. 

Brexit

Brexit, of course, will have a huge impact on all industries, although exactly what this will mean for Devon based businesses and the rest of the UK is still not completely clear. 

However, we have already had some indication of the outcome of Brexit with regards to potential impacts on manufacturing. Namely, the government has released information on immigration plans, highlighting that low-skilled workers will find it difficult to secure visas in the UK. 

This, of course, will negatively impact any manufacturer that relies on low-cost labour from European countries. It may also mean that the cost of manufacturing will rise as a result, ultimately making Devon made products less attractive in the global market.

The increased difficulty of trading with Europe will lead to an increase in domestic trading in key areas that support the manufacturing space. For example, as truck imports become increasingly complex and expensive, we are likely to see a rise in UK trade such as refurbished skip lorries for sale.

Covid-19

The rapid spread of the Covid-19 virus will impact every industry in the coming months, although we can only make an educated guess at how this might be. 

On one hand, this is likely to slow the efficiency of many businesses with self-isolation and home working becoming commonplace. The level of uncertainty surrounding the virus is also likely to slow consumer confidence and therefore slow trade. 

However, there is also the potential that technologically advanced manufacturers, especially those in the healthcare space, or those with the capability to apply their expertise to the various challenges we will see in upcoming months, will see opportunities for growth. 

As the pandemic spreads, we will see a major shift in the way that businesses are run. Those that can shift all working online may find this easier than those that need physical labour to continue production. 

Environmental

In recent years we have begun to see a social shift towards environmental awareness due to the impacts we are now seeing from past actions. A huge part of this shift is a push from the general public to minimise waste and reduce the use of fossil fuels.

This shift places a lot of pressure on the manufacturing space to take an environmental approach, not just to meet requirements set out by the government but to meet the expectations of the general public. 

Environmental challenges could also prove to be beneficial for manufactures that can apply their expertise in lowering the environmental impacts of certain areas. For example, Devon-based Supacat may see opportunities to lower the carbon emissions produced by their vehicles, making them more appealing to help meet future targets. 

We aren’t that far into 2020 and it is already proving to be a challenging year for many businesses. Although the level of uncertainty is high across the board and many businesses are likely to face unprecedented fluctuations in trading, there are also likely to be considerable opportunities for innovative Devon based manufacturers this year.