What Britain makes

We often hear complaints that Britain has lost its heritage as a great manufacturing nation, that we don't actually 'make' anything anymore. Well, in terms of metal and wood and plastic that may well be largely the case, though, for reasons I don't understand, we seem a popular place to make case. But it is far from the truth to say we don't make anything, we make plenty of things; its just that they are less tangible and are often of an intellectual, technical and creative nature. We are clearly very very good, sometimes world leaders in these kind of products : entertainment biotechnology and research environmental research and devlopment energy technology civil engineering medical research and treatments sport and related activities and services higher education design and architecture The 'Arts' computer technology software development financial services (with a health warning on that one !) There are more, I am sure, but this is an impressive list. What's more, these tend to be high value products while much traditional manufacturing involves low value products. So Britain is in a strong position to exploit our high value specialisations in which we seem to have a comparative advantage. So the first thing to say is to stop bleeting about the loss of our manufacturing tradition. More seriously, though, we need to recognise where our strengths and advantages lie and to nurture them carefully. This means being willing to invest a large proportion of our national income in these kinds of areas : education generally higher education and research sport and entertainent infrastructure Medical research and top class treatment centres biodevelopments, including sustainable energy The Arts Such investment can be undertaken both through the private and public sectors as appropriate. I think we could be on the brink of a new period of regional, if not global dominance in a variety of economic sectors. But before we do what is necessary to nurture them, we need to recognise what they are worth and not hanker after something that is well behind us and in which we do not enjoy comparative advantages.