Economic futures in the uk

• Mechanisation, the use of machines, has taken place in businesses and farms as they replace many workers for machines.
• Strict laws for environmental pollution make it expensive for businesses to produce products in the UK.
• Some resources such as iron ore and coal have declined in availability.
• Globalisation has led to production continuing in low income countries, which have less educated workforces, limited health and safety, and no minimum wage laws.
• This makes costs cheaper.
• Much cheaper crops can be imported from countries overseas where mass production brings costs down and labour and land are both cheaper.
• Nearly 50% of young people in the UK entered university, resulting in a high demand and high aspirations for graduate level jobs.
• The UK Government in the 1970s and 1980s sold or turned many of its secondary and primary industries to companies in a process called privatisation.
• Many UK governments have invested in the “knowledge economy” rather than primary and secondary industries.
• The UK has to follow European Union law, which limits fishing and helps farmers mechanise, costing jobs in primary industries.
• The UK is moving towards a post-industrial economy, where the focus of our economy is not on the making of traditional manufactured products but on products based on knowledge and research.
• Information technology involves the use of computers and other hardware to store, process and use data, often to help businesses and governments.
• Service industries are businesses that do work for a customer, and sometimes provide goods, but are not involved in manufacturing.
• Finance, particularly the financial services industry, is a major part of the UK and especially London economy, providing services to do with money, such as accountancy, money transfer, trading and credit.
• Research industries involve research and development, where ideas are transformed into workable products.
• Science and business parks are purpose built areas of offices and warehouses, often at the edge of a city and on a main road.
• Science parks are often located near university sites, and high-tech industries are established.
• Scientific research and commercial development may be carried out in cooperation with the university.
• Many of these industries can work together, and they have some common characteristics; they are often footloose, meaning they are not tied to heavy raw materials and can locate wherever they have a cost advantage.
• These industries often locate close to transport routes such as motorways and railways stations to offer maximum access for customers and employees.
• These industries are dependent upon HUMAN RESOURCES and require a highly educated work force.
• These industries are often more sustainable than heavy industry, with lower energy needs, low or zero air pollution emissions, landscaping to offer a nice environment and carbon neutral buildings.
• These industries often group together, a process known as agglomeration.
• Environmental impact of industry in UK

  ISSUES

  • Manufacturing plants have a negative visual effect on the landscape
  • Industrial processes cause water and air pollution and soil degradation
  • Waste products are often taken to landfill – can cause further pollution

  MORE SUSTAINABLE

  • Transport of materials and goods increases levels of noise and air pollution
  • Technology can be used to reduce emissions
  • Desulphurisation can remove harmful gases such as sulphur dioxide from power station chimneys
  • Heavy fines are imposed when industrial pollution occurs
• Modern industry and improved environmental sustainability are associated with business parks and science parks.
• Cambridge is home to over 1500 IT and biotechnology companies, with many of them starting as small start-up companies.
• Abcam, a company based in Cambridge, is now worth more than £1billion and employs 200 people with PhD degrees.
• Cambridge Science Park, which began in 1970, is linked to the university.
• Cambridge has good transport links to London (M11) and Stansted airport, but its road and rail needs to be improved to other cities.
• Graduates from university provide a highly skilled workforce for companies based in Cambridge.
• Few traditional industries compete for space in Cambridge, so rents are lower.
• Rural area is usually defined as one that is relatively sparsely populated (less than 10,000people) and either left as wilderness or with farming as a major economic activity.
• Rural areas in the UK that are close to major centres of population are referred to as Accessible Rural and allow for Counter urbanisation where people live in the countryside but commute to work.
• Rural areas which have a decline in population have been in REMOTE less accessible areas.
• The younger population moves out of Remote areas due to a lack of jobs and social life.
• If population shrinks or the population ages then the SERVICES available could decline, leaving older generations cut off or isolated.
• Our roads are going to get significant amounts of money, with extra lanes being added to the busiest motorways, the equivalent of at least an additional 221 lane miles in total by opening the hard shoulder to traffic and using new technology.
• Ports are vital ways for the UK to get the resources and products it needs to function as a major country, with the London Gateway being a development on the north bank of the River Thames in Thurrock, Essex.
• Airports connect the UK to the world, with Heathrow and Gatwick being our major airports and acting as “hubs” allowing passengers to connect to the rest of the world.
• There is a proposal to expand Heathrow and add a third runway and sixth terminal building.