When Rugby MP and BEIS Committee member Mark Pawsey visited Fanuc UK’s inaugural Open House event in Coventry at the end of October, he expressed the hope that it would help to change the perception of automation in the UK.

Discussing the Committee’s recent report, Automation and the future of work, he highlighted some of its key findings and recommendations, including the need to accelerate the uptake of automated systems.

The report argues that unless concerted efforts are made to manage the transition to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, UK businesses will miss a pivotal opportunity for economic growth.

Organised to promote automation and the opportunities that lie ahead for UK manufacturing, the three-day event attracted 600 visitors, and it covered topics including the need for smart manufacturing and the Internet of Things.

Fanuc UK’s managing director, Tom Bouchier (www.fanuc.eu/uk/en), said: “This is the first time we have hosted this event and opened our doors to such in-depth industry discussion.

"Over the course of the three days, we received fantastic engagement from industry peers and also debated the future of our industry.

"Automation provides the UK with significant opportunities, but we need to act now and ensure that the current scepticism surrounding automation is addressed.

“Perhaps the biggest challenge facing UK manufacturing surrounds education.

“Ensuring that school and university curriculums are exposing people to new technologies from a young age, as well as providing a clear route for anyone interested in studying the subject, is essential.”