Representation matters

So what are the characteristics that are making today's manufacturing companies increasingly successful ?

This year's Budget promises to be tight with little spare in the public finances. Read EEF's views on what the Chancellor should or should not do.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rt Hon Alistair Darling MP, was the Guest of Honour at the manufacturing event of the year. EEF President, Alan Wood, Chairman of Siemens plc addressed guests on current business concerns, read his full speech here

Modern manufacturing can be hard to define. It is not necessarily hi-tech, but always high value.

Government is currently putting the finishing touches to the Energy White Paper which will set out how the UK can achieve a secure and competitive supply of energy in the long term. How far should nuclear power be a contributor to a low carbon economy?

The government's comprehensive spending review will be published in the autumn and will allocate resources for key programmes for manufacturers. We look at what the government's priorities should be.

What should the future structure of business support look like? What should the next Prime Minister do to restructure the DTI? We look at the future of the Department for Trade and Industry.

Government should avoid increasing the burden of taxes on business and take further steps to encourage the development of science , innovation and skills.