Employment Rights Bill and pushing back post-Brexit rules: read our UK manufacturing newsletter

In our fortnightly newsletter, we round up the key stories for UK manufacturers. This time, changes to 0-hours contracts and minimum wage are of interest, as is the crisis in the Middle East and its impact on global supply chains - with a risk of rising oil prices and reduced chances of a return to Red Sea shipping routes.?

Food manufacturers that source locally must be aware of data revealing a poor harvest in England, but some pressures for this sector may be eased by further delays to post-Brexit rules on imports. There is also the heartening news that UK brands are in high demand in the US!?

Read on for your news digest...?

Steady expansion but low confidence in manufacturing: The S&P Global UK Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index takes stock of the state of the sector, and the outlook in September was mixed. Whilst there was a sold increase in production volumes at the end of the third quarter – with output and new orders continuing to rise – confidence among manufacturers is dropping, largely due to conflicts in the Middle East and inflation pressures. Transport prices also rose in September, perhaps adding to the cost worries affecting confidence – as the UK returned to growth in August yet the broader picture is of a slowing economy and potentially painful budget. ?

Further delays to post-Brexit rules: After news that new SPS checks for fruit and vegetables and parcels controls will be delayed, another post-Brexit rule has been pushed back. 31 October was tabled to be the start of enforcement of safety and security declarations for all goods entering into the UK. The government has pushed back the date when this requirement will come into action; these declarations will now not be required until January 31 2025. This gives businesses more time to prepare – with further alterations potentially on the cards, as the new government assesses rules instigated by its predecessor and raises the possibility of a new EU veterinary agreement.??

Employment Rights Bill: The government has unveiled its Employment Rights Bill, formalising the promises made to improve workers' rights and boost business. It includes strengthened statutory sick pay, changes to zero-hours contracts and the right to request flexible working; read a breakdown in our blog. With a third of UK manufacturing firms in favour of zero-hour contracts, the changes are likely to have an impact on the sector.?

And the rest of the world? German industry is struggling, and US inflation fell in September, but is still above expectations.?

Inspiration station: Humanoid robots to perform repetitive tasks. GXO Logistics has partnered with Reflex Robotics on humanoid multi-purpose robots that can transition between repetitive tasks like tote transfers and product picking. Coud this technology save time and resource in your manufacturing organisation??

World AI Week! As World AI Week draws to a close, read our blog reflecting on cutting edge uses of AI in manufacturing.?

Catch us next time for more manufacturing news.??