News that the Government is pumping money into a series of infrastructure projects – as announced by Philip Hammond in his Autumn Statement – is good news for manufacturing companies like Occo. 

In his first, and as it turns out last, Autumn briefing, the Chancellor revealed an extra £1.1bn for investment in English local transport networks, £220m to reduce traffic pinch points, £23bn to be spent on innovation and infrastructure over five years, £2bn per year by 2020 for research and development funding and £110m for East West Rail and to deliver the Oxford to Cambridge Expressway.

Our range of air blast oil and water coolers often play an integral part on hydraulic equipment that is used on infrastructure projects, such as Crossrail, the new high frequency, high capacity railway for London and the South East. 

We have also supplied coolers to many major universities, to support exciting research and development work.

Although the overall potential growth forecast has been downgraded, with the Government’s commitment to increased funding for export opportunities, it seems there will be opportunities for manufacturing SMEs like us in the near future.