New research from Argon & Co has found that 70% of C-suite leaders in the UK want to see increased investment in technologies such as AI, smart warehousing and data analytics in the upcoming Spring Statement from Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
The Operations Outlook study also found that 62% of respondents want greater investment in workforce development, particularly in long-term skills training and apprenticeship schemes. In the logistics and automotive industries, this figure rises to 80% and 76% respectively, reflecting the aging workforce and difficulty in attracting young talent into these sectors.
“Sectors like logistics, supply chain and manufacturing are the backbone of the UK economy – from delivering the food on our tables, to the medicines we need,” said Ben Wright, managing principal at Argon & Co. “However, these industries often get pushed to the wayside. C-suite leaders are demanding investment to build next-generation supply chains and address skills gaps, ensuring the UK stays competitive amid global trade chaos. We urge Reeves to prioritize these industries and take bold action to futureproof our economy.”
On the physical supply chain side, Argon & Co found 57% of UK C-suite and operations leaders want to see more government support for automation and robotics to boost efficiency in manufacturing and logistics.
Cutting red tape is another key demand, with 52% of UK C-suite leaders surveyed urging governments to streamline logistics and trade bureaucracy.
“Inevitably, Brexit has added layers of bureaucracy that slow down UK trade, but AI and automation can help cut through this complexity,” Wright said. “With such strong demand for AI investment, there’s a clear opportunity for Reeves to embrace technology investment to reduce inefficiencies, simplify global trade, and build more resilient supply chains.”
Read the full report here.