A new crisis spells peril for manufacturers.

They need more voices in their corner.

There are still many unknowns about the conflict in the Middle East, but already it is clear that manufacturers will need support if they are to compete internationally.  

They won’t achieve this on their own. 

We now need politicians, the media, and critically, the British public, to rally behind manufacturers.  

This must be the year the country recognises our proud manufacturing industry faces a moment of peril.  

This is no time for business as usual. It is time to make friends and influence people – fast.  

Manufacturing needs to learn from other industries  

In gloomy economic times, when the government is forced to make tough decisions, it is often those who speak loudest that get heard.  

It can feel uncomfortable. Yet speaking out on the issues you face doesn’t need to harm relationships with the government or wider industry stakeholders.  

But you don’t have to do it alone. Having someone in your corner can ease the burden.  

Many will have watched on as the farming industry galvanised the public to speak up on their behalf against proposed tax changes.    

Every day the media, businesses, supermarket shoppers, celebrities and politicians banged the drum for the industry.  

Their cause became relatable to the entire country. 

We heard personal stories that made farming businesses seem relatable. Stories of families and communities that rely on farming businesses. It became relatable and personal.  

The industry succeeded in change.  

Then earlier this year, the hospitality sector rallied the country to speak up on their behalf on the issue of business rates.  

Yet again, businesses told their story with passion and logic. Critically, they ensured others spoke up on their behalf.  

Their campaign was not numbers based – but story based. Hospitality businesses were framed in how they relate to consumers and communities.  

Manufacturing is different to these industries.  

Again, the industry spoke loudly, had loud voices in their corner, and achieved change. 

Arguably, the manufacturing industry is even more important for our country.  

Numbers are only half the story 

The numbers make for grim reading – and are likely to get even worse.  

Industrial electricity prices in the UK are a staggering four times higher than in the US and 46% above the global average. 

Almost 90% of UK businesses have seen energy bills rise over the past five years, with four in ten cutting back on investment as a direct result. 

Still today, business electricity costs remain around 70% higher than before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

But numbers are not enough.  

Manufacturers need to tell a story packed with emotion of how they are an integral part of communities and national pride.  

Today manufacturers lack the sheer weight of voices to stand up for them because numbers alone are not enough to recruit supportive voices to your cause.  

This is not about scaremongering. It is telling the true story of the industry.  

Make manufacturing the voice that cannot be ignored  

One campaign alone may not be enough to deliver the change required by a business – but it can significantly increase the chances of success.  

In the new era it is not enough to simply hold meetings behind closed doors to tell your story.  

Manufacturers need to run a campaign that joins up every dot – from LinkedIn to regional media and meetings in the heart of Westminster.  

And one component cannot be ignored – the rise of social media influencers.  

Decision makers are like everyone else – spending their spare moments scrolling and being influenced by authentic and charismatic content.  

At Tangerine we are pioneering the use of social media influencers to tell a business’ story in unlikely places.  

These influencers can rally the public and even decision makers to your cause.  

So now is the time for manufacturers to tell their story – and get others to tell it on their behalf.  

The most unlikely of voices could be the one that tips the balance.  

This is a year of change and uncertainty which should empower manufacturers to do things a little bit differently.