Reply to: Too expensive to manufacture electronics in UK (RaspberryPi)

[AtW]

The answer is for someone in the UK to manufacture the components locally, having an advantage because imported components are liable to duty and theirs are not.

[DodgyAgent]

This isn't a case of "providing a service". It's about manufacturing - actually making stuff, real stuff you can hit with a hammer.

Creating the infrastructure for real industries like this is simply not going to happen in this day and age. Our manufacturing industries have been systematically destroyed by politicians, starting thirty years ago.

The best this country can manage nowadays is providing a few PR types to lie about how wonderful it is that this happened.

So IT is a soft business then?

[SimonMac]

Isn't this why people assemble things abroad, import to the UK and stick a badge on or something so they can say "Built in the UK"

[DodgyAgent]

Explain why you think that is control freak?

I agree with him.

It seems wrong that UK companies have to compete against offshore service providers who are bound to be cheaper. UK industry can not hope to win.
Particularly when the consumer can not go offshore for the service provided.

Like it or not we have strict labour laws in the UK (and Europe) and it is incredible that large corporations can dodge these by simply using an off shore service.

And how do you tax what is essentially a phone call from abroad? How exactly do you differentiate between a call from a call centre and your cousin in Madras?

Again its this entitlement thing where we decide to give fathers 6 months paternity leave and our employers are expected to swallow the cost. If the UK chooses to impose costly employment laws then the quid pro quo is that fewer people will be employed. We live in an International market where countries compete with each other to attract investment. Uk businesses are within their absolute right morally and legally to place their business where they like. If this means locating a call centre abroad then so be it.

We Europeans will soon realise that we are not entitled to have our cake and eat it.

[TestMangler]

A good example are DHL delivery drivers. They are all self employed, but have to drive their own van painted with DHL on it, wear a DHL uniform and only deliver parcels for DHL exactly where and when DHL tell them too. But they are not employers, oh good good no.

Footballers also exempt from IR35. Would be nice if one refused to play at match time due to being 'unavailable' and refused to wear the same clobber as the other guys in the 'team'

[DimPrawn]

Making it easier to come here and setup for one,
Regulation, business taxation, personal taxation, and planning and infrastructure aren't the greatest and need to be looked at.

Take IR35 for example it's specifically aimed at IT contractor's rather than everyone, there are plenty of tradesmen out there that earn a fair few bucks but they don't seem to get targeted.

A good example are DHL delivery drivers. They are all self employed, but have to drive their own van painted with DHL on it, wear a DHL uniform and only deliver parcels for DHL exactly where and when DHL tell them too. But they are not employers, oh good good no.

[The Spartan]

So what does "attracting investment" mean? How?

Making it easier to come here and setup for one,
Regulation, business taxation, personal taxation, and planning and infrastructure aren't the greatest and need to be looked at.

Take IR35 for example it's specifically aimed at IT contractor's rather than everyone, there are plenty of tradesmen out there that earn a fair few bucks but they don't seem to get targeted.

[NickFitz]

Explain why you think that is control freak?

I agree with him.

It seems wrong that UK companies have to compete against offshore service providers who are bound to be cheaper. UK industry can not hope to win.
Particularly when the consumer can not go offshore for the service provided.

Like it or not we have strict labour laws in the UK (and Europe) and it is incredible that large corporations can dodge these by simply using an off shore service.

This isn't a case of "providing a service". It's about manufacturing - actually making stuff, real stuff you can hit with a hammer.

Creating the infrastructure for real industries like this is simply not going to happen in this day and age. Our manufacturing industries have been systematically destroyed by politicians, starting thirty years ago.

The best this country can manage nowadays is providing a few PR types to lie about how wonderful it is that this happened.

[Arturo Bassick]

Oh dear - a control freak

Explain why you think that is control freak?

I agree with him.

It seems wrong that UK companies have to compete against offshore service providers who are bound to be cheaper. UK industry can not hope to win.
Particularly when the consumer can not go offshore for the service provided.

Like it or not we have strict labour laws in the UK (and Europe) and it is incredible that large corporations can dodge these by simply using an off shore service.

[DodgyAgent]

It means that we're not currently attracting investment, as we're not cheap enough. I read that other countries are often put off by the fact that we don't offer good incentives to set up business here etc

So what does "attracting investment" mean? How?

[DodgyAgent]

and "import duty" on offshore call centres.

Oh dear - a control freak

[The Spartan]

It means that we're not currently attracting investment, as we're not cheap enough. I read that other countries are often put off by the fact that we don't offer good incentives to set up business here etc

[Paddy]

Maybe they should charge "import duty" on non EU workers, after all they are component parts or imported assets.

and "import duty" on offshore call centres.

[DodgyAgent]

We need to be more competitive or offer better incentives for those bringing jobs to Britain

what does that mean?

[Arturo Bassick]

Maybe they should charge "import duty" on non EU workers, after all they are component parts or imported assets.