Your country needs you

In challenging economic times, it's sometimes easy to focus on the negatives. However, rather than lamenting the gloomy climate, we should shine light on the strengths that will help get the UK economy back on its feet and return the country to sustained growth. That's why we've launched the Make it in Great Britain campaign; to remind industry and the general public that Britain still has a manufacturing industry to be proud of. Worth approximately £130bn a year – that's 10% of the UK economy – and employing 2.5 million people, the sector's impact cannot be undervalued. So, how can Make it in Great Britain really make an impact, and what makes it so different? Simply, our aims of the campaign are to challenge negative perceptions of the industry, highlight the best of British manufacturing and encourage young people to consider a career in the industry. Make it in Great Britain also has a very important element, which is the Make it in Great Britain exhibition. The exhibition takes place at the Science Museum during the Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer. At a time when all eyes will be on London, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to demonstrate our world-leading innovation to a domestic and global audience with an engaging, interactive and very public-facing exhibition. We are looking to British manufacturers to tell their stories; to shout about their achievements, be open about the challenges they are facing and demonstrate how they will overcome them. Businesses, no matter how big or small, have a critical role to play in this important movement to change the image of manufacturing for good. There are plenty of ways for companies to get involved, such as hosting an event at the exhibition, entering the Make it in Great Britain Challenge or volunteering to be a campaign case study. Together we can ensure that the industry attracts lucrative investment and the brightest talent possible to enable Britain to continue excelling as one of the world's leading manufacturers. Find out more, go to www.bis.gov.uk/makeitingreatbritain.