INNOVATION

Innovation and this website

This site was originally about products made in the Preston area but it also supports manufacturing in a broader sense. Particularly as it is under threat in the UK as greater centralisation and cheaper sourced countries emerge.

Also in the UK there is a growing scepticism about research, while other countries invest more. The UK also suffers from a lack of consistent direction in public transport policy and energy policy making investment risky. These short sighted policies are making British workers more reliant on foreign companies who are taking over UK businesses and the decisions about where to invest. Good examples being Vauxhall and Nissan whose owners have no affinity to the UK but look before investing to see if the exchange rate, government grants and the workers output are both very much in favour to the company. Peugot at Ryton soon decided to repatriate their manufacturing to France when things got tough.

There is a debate about whether advanced economies need to manufacture if they can produce services such as a mobile phone company and intellectual products like software or television programmes. Who wants to work in a factory anyway, they say. Some of the folly of this is that there are large groups of people who are most suited to working in factories and who are now looking for work as well as the lost skills.

Preston found advantage through exploiting innovators from the area during the industrial revolution. Arkwright, one of the innovators of cotton manufacture, did most of his work in Preston but had to go to Nottingham to exploit his machine. Hidden away in the country so those who were against machinery couldn't destroy his mills.

In the 19th Century Preston grew in population from 10,000 to 100,000 as the innovations in the cotton industry were implemented, money flowed into the area and gradually living conditions were improved (despite them appearing harsh to modern eyes). Seaside resorts like Blackpool grew to be the biggest in the world and fine extravagent buildings were constructed; Prestons Gothic Town Hall(burnt), Harris Museum, St Walburges Church, Miller Park, Railway and Port.

Another area of innovation enabled by this was in public transport. The use of electricity enabled electrically powered trams to be developed and Preston was one of the biggest manufacturing centres of trams.

As the steam and then petrol engine developed Leyland Motors became one of the biggest bus and truck manufacturers in the world. The rear engined Atlantean being a major innovation in the 1950's.

Other innovations were the introduction of the jet engine and the growth of Preston as an aircraft manufacturing centre. This was largely based on the success of the Canberra bomber that was designed in Preston in the late 1940's.

The Canberra bomber is an example of seeded innovation, sponsored by the Government, with a product engineered and configured skilfully by a new team using the latest methods and equipment and spawning thousands of jobs into the local area that have continued long after the original product. Largely because of industrial and political decisions as well as the capability. Often new companies aren't hidebound by old practises and no doubt English Electric benefitted from this.

Value of Innovation

In the 19th Century the innovations brought people out of rural work into terraced houses and later parks, theatres, musuems were added often by local philanthropists.

In the 20th Century further improvements were afforded.

How much is a large business like the aircraft factories worth to Preston and the area. It could be assumed that an average of approximately 10,000 people worked at the 3 (now 2) main sites continually over the last 60 years.

At todays prices what is the average UK salary? Say £20,000. 10,000 times £20,000 is £200,000,000 per year.

Not to forget the pensioners still drawing their EE/BAC/BAe pensions. Also the small businesses providing support; temp agencies, sub-contractors, sandwich shops, pubs, people delivering from warehouses; material, equipment, tools, office furniture and equipment.

How much has the industry been worth to the UK. The Canberra exported over 500 aircraft including many built overseas, the Lightning exported about a 100, Jaguar around 100, Tornado over 100. Which is about 800 export aircraft. This provides maintenance and support work as well for up to 30 years after the original delivery.

The aircraft built for the RAF in the UK reduces the need to buy aircraft from the USA or other countries. The aircraft industry includes the large supplier base with companies such as Smiths and Dowty in the South West, engines from Derby, Glasgow and Bristol. Other major aviation electronic companies in Edinburgh and London.

The aircraft and lorry building industries are still in the area. Cotton has gone. What would be the purpose of Preston without a major business? Would the population be sustained by work in small businesses and government offices. The university is helping employment. At what point would it implode or become largely dependant on state aid?

Who in Preston is going to invent something new, like a Dyson, that makes 'Made in Preston' a proud statement.

Innovation - UK Government view