2020 Vision – Unite Strategy for Manufacturing proposes "10 pillars" upon which the union believes that manufacturing should be based.

Unite’s assistant general secretary Tony Burke, who launched the strategy at the union’s annual sector conference today, said: "Manufacturing is the lifeblood of our economy. However, the problem is this Tory-led coalition government has no long-term strategy on UK manufacturing and is doing more damage to UK manufacturing than any previous Conservative government."

Burke accuse the government of being "strong on manufacturing rhetoric" but "weak on delivery" and added: "Actions speak louder than words and the actions, so far, have fallen woefully short of what is needed to provide the support for manufacturing which has been missing for so long.

"If this government is serious about rebalancing the economy, we need to invest in the UK’s manufacturing skills base with a long-term solution."

Unite’s "10 pillars" of manufacturing comprise:

•  Building a framework of policies to defend strategically important industries

• Continued financial support through interventionist policies

• Targeted support for SMEs

• Better use of government purchasing power to secure manufacturing jobs in the UK

• Maximising opportunities from low carbon requirements

• Delivery of an education and skills framework for the sector

• Creating a university structure which builds on science

• Create the right investment environment for research and development

• Creation of a level playing field to deliver security and fair pricing for energy

• A framework of legislation promoting transparency for all stakeholders in manufacturing industries