The turning tide

AS THE new financial year begins, I feel there is a tangible change in mood across the UK’s control and automation sector. The signals emerging for 2026 suggest more than a routine recovery cycle; they point to a reset in how manufacturers view automation. The familiar focus on maintaining legacy assets is increasingly being replaced by structured, strategic programmes of modernisation.

From maintenance to modernisation

The UK has a culture of “patch‑and‑mend” and being proud of our legacy machines rather than the new investment. Systems were kept running, but rarely re‑engineered. Today’s buyers are approaching the market very differently.

Instead of requesting individual components to solve isolated problems, organisations are investing in connected automation architectures designed to deliver long‑term operational value. Reliability, data visibility, cybersecurity and energy efficiency are now baseline requirements rather than future ambitions.

Greater supply‑chain stability has enabled this shift. Lead times have shortened, availability has improved, and manufacturers are reconsidering supplier relationships with a greater emphasis on resilience and localisation. 

Integration as standard practice

One of the clearest indicators of this change is rising demand for fully integrated systems. End users are seeking visibility from the sensor level through to enterprise systems, with data that supports decision‑making rather than passive reporting.

This reflects economic reality. In a high‑cost energy environment, precision and predictability are essential. Manufacturers that can understand, measure and optimise their processes in detail are better placed to protect margins and meet sustainability commitments. As a result, automation is increasingly judged by outcomes delivered over the system lifecycle, not by upfront cost.

For suppliers and integrators, this reinforces the shift away from transactional sales toward application expertise, long‑term support and partnership.

Innovate UK Adoption Hubs

The rollout of Innovate UK’s Adoption Hubs towards the second half of this year will further encourage manufacturers to take the plunge, and utilise the hubs for low-cost de-risking and support in their automation journey. 

By providing hands‑on access to automation technologies, alongside specialist guidance, the hubs enable businesses—particularly SMEs—to trial solutions before committing capital. This materially lowers the barrier to entry and shortens the path from innovation to implementation.

Crucially, the hubs also foster collaboration between end users, technology providers and integrators, bridging the gap between R&D and the factory floor.

Skills: The critical constraint

Technology alone will not sustain momentum. Skills remain one of the sector’s most significant constraints, and they cannot be addressed through short‑term recruitment initiatives. What is needed is a sustained, coordinated effort (measured in years) to build capability across system design, integration, commissioning and lifecycle support. Automation must be presented as a long‑term, high‑value career path much earlier in the education journey.

This is not an HR issue; it is infrastructure. Without people, investment will stall. The Innovate UK Skills Competition will hopefully put the right resources in place alongside regional delivery centres. 

Beyond 2026

The renewed confidence seen today appears well‑founded. Policy support is improving, supply chains are stabilising and manufacturers are again looking like they are prepared to invest with intent. If this trajectory continues, the UK has a genuine opportunity to rebuild a competitive, technologically sovereign manufacturing base. One capable of competing globally for the remainder of the decade and beyond.

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