A report compiled by analysts at Civitas has worried manufacturing recruitment agencies by saying 1000’s of manufacturing jobs could be threatened over the coming years. 

The threat stems from the burden of Green Energy policies that have been introduced to satisfy the European Union. Energy bills have already increased by 21% and this figure could rise to as much as 70% by 2020. The EU targets are set at 15% of the country’s energy must be via clean sources by 2020 and that greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced by 34% by the same date.

The report outlines that the costs involved in turning electrical intensive manufacturing to a more greener state, could prove to be crippling and it will be no surprise when these manufacturers decide to relocate overseas. Across the whole industry this could put 250,000 jobs at risk over the next 10 years.

In my view this is a hard balancing act Britain has to of course be seen to help the environment and cannot be blamed if there are higher electricity bills doing so. However maybe the government could act on other measures to counter act these costs, in the precarious state our economy is in at the moment I for one would be eager to keep as many companies happy with being set up in the UK and not put these jobs at risk.