PRESS RELEASE – IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION

7 September 2022

Manufacturing and tourism vital in delivering new Prime Minister’s aspiration nation

Following the new Prime Minister’s speech yesterday, John Lally, Director General of the National Caravan Council (NCC) commented:

“We were encouraged to hear the new Prime Minister commit to urgent action on energy prices for businesses, as British manufacturing will otherwise suffer severely, as will thousands of rural and seaside tourism businesses, if help is not received quickly.” 

The NCC upholds that leisure vehicle manufacturing has been a British success story.  It holds a niche but critical role in job creation and development, primarily in the north of England, thereby supporting the Government’s levelling up agenda and maintaining employment where it is most needed.

Manufacturers of touring caravans, motorhomes and holiday caravans, already reeling from severe supply chain issues, desperately need help with soaring energy costs.  These manufacturers in turn are vital to the UK tourism industry, supplying vehicles in support of the holiday parks sector. 

Approximately 20% of all UK holiday nights are spent in caravans of some sort, primarily in seaside and rural areas. This is a sector where the smaller businesses in particular with less reserves are desperate for a package of support measures to survive this winter. With working people’s disposable income rapidly shrinking, the parks industry needs VAT cut to 10% to make holidays more affordable, and a business rates holiday, on top of a freeze on energy prices. 

John Lally concludes: “Help for our members in manufacturing and tourism will protect jobs, many of which are in areas of higher unemployment, and will pay dividends by contributing towards the creation of a successful ‘aspiration nation’.”

Ends

Editors’ notes

Vehicles in use: There are currently approximately 555,000 touring caravans, over 330,000 holiday caravans and in excess of 225,000 motorhomes/campervans in use in the UK.

Value of the parks industry: Holiday parks and campsites generated £9.3bn in visitor expenditure equating to £5.3bn Gross Value Added (GVA) to the UK economy (2018 figure), according to UKCCA research.

Made in the UK: Approaching 90% of caravans (of various types) sold in the UK are manufactured here.