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Enginuity launches the Policy Centre to strengthen SME influence across UK manufacturing

A new Policy Centre for Supply Chain and SMEs has been launched to give smaller manufacturers a clearer and more consistent voice in national skills and industrial policy. As an Enginuity partner, the CEA welcomes the move, which supports long-standing priorities across the construction equipment sector.

The Policy Centre for Supply Chain and SMEs, powered by Enginuity, has been launched to give engineering and manufacturing SMEs a stronger and more consistent voice in national policy. As an Enginuity partner, the CEA welcomes this development, which aligns with many of the skills and supply-chain challenges raised across the construction equipment sector.

The Policy Centre brings SMEs, industry bodies, employers and government together to build a clearer understanding of the challenges smaller manufacturers face. It draws on data, research and direct engagement to ensure real industry experience is taken into account in skills and industrial policy. This should help support more practical and grounded conversations with government, particularly around long-standing recruitment and training issues.

The Centre describes itself as impact driven and solution agnostic. Its early work links into wider discussions on the Advanced Manufacturing Plan, apprenticeship levy access, FE provision and ongoing investment in technical education. It is also gathering regular insight through its SME Snapshot survey, which tracks how smaller firms respond to economic and policy changes.

For the construction equipment sector, the launch of the Policy Centre signals a more coordinated and evidence-led approach to skills and supply-chain policy. It also creates a clearer route for SME experience to be recognised at national level.

Ann Watson, CEO of Enginuity, said: “SMEs are the lifeblood of the UK economy, yet their voices often struggle to cut through in the policy arena. Effective policy depends on honest engagement with the people who understand the challenges first hand, and too many SMEs feel they are not being heard. The Policy Centre has been created to bring clarity, evidence and direction to that conversation. By drawing together SMEs, government and industry partners, we can support a stronger skills system and a more resilient supply chain.”

Viki Bell, CEO of the Construction Equipment Association, said: “The Policy Centre offers a welcome focus on the real pressures facing smaller manufacturers. Skills and supply-chain challenges continue to affect many businesses across our sector and having a clearer evidence base helps move the national conversation in a more practical direction. The construction equipment sector relies on a skilled and resilient supply chain, and this launch is a positive step towards ensuring SME experience is properly reflected in policy.”

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