Blog Post by Central London Network Chair Matthew Davies
Robotics in the UK: Why We Need More Robots, Not Fewer
Professor Mike Wilson, Chief Automation Officer at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), presented on “Robotics: Where We Are Now and What the Future Could Look Like,” at the IET’s Savoy Place on behalf of the Central London Network. Using data, case studies, and decades of hands-on experience to show how automation is changing UK manufacturing and how increasing the level of automation is a key means of addressing the challenges currently facing it.
The talk began with Professor Wilson tracing his career arc: from an MSc in Industrial Robotics back in 1981 through to being the Chief Automation Officer of the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) and director of the Manufacturing Technologies Association. Having lived through several waves of development of automation technology, his perspective felt particularly relevant.
Robots on the Rise
Taking stock of the 10 years from 2013 and 2023, the global stock of industrial robots grew from 1.3 million to over 4.2 million, while installations have now passed half a million units annually for 3 consecutive years. Installation in electronic sectors has slowed slightly, however, the range of applications means that sectors such as metal fabrication and machinery manufacturing saw notable increases.
Service robotics is also booming, with 205,000 professional service robots deployed in the past year alone. Agriculture, logistics, healthcare, and hospitality are all embracing robotics. From surgical assistance to crop inspection, the diversity of new applications underlines how robotics is no longer confined to the factory floor.
Social & economic factors are also converging to make robotics not just beneficial, but essential. In UK manufacturing, the average age is now 52, with around 20% of workers due to retire within five years. Automation may help to offset this capacity gap by enabling the next generation to focus on higher-value, more rewarding work. Public familiarity with robotics through education and daily life are doing as much for technology acceptance as any government policy.
Emerging Technologies and New Frontiers
Some of the most thought-provoking slides covered humanoid robots, with BMW and Hyundai already trialling them on production lines. Professor Wilson acknowledged the hype, but indicated these platforms will mature, just as industrial robots did 40 years ago. Cobots (collaborative robots designed to share space with humans) are also growing and equally transformative, with humans focusing on complex, dexterous work, and robots handling the repetitive precision tasks.
Professor Wilson didn’t shy away from the realities. Productivity remains the UK’s Achilles’ heel. The ONS data he shared showed how output per worker has flatlined since 2008, falling well below the pre-crash trajectory. According to Make UK, if 75% of Britain’s smaller manufacturers improved productivity to the level of the top quartile, GDP could rise by £270 billion.
To ground these ideas, Professor Wilson shared real-world examples from MTC collaborations.
The Walsall Wheelbarrow project illustrated how even traditional manufacturing can be revitalised through automation. Over a decade, the company implemented robotic welding, tube bending, injection moulding, and powder-coating processes. The benefits? Greater efficiency, consistency, and quality — alongside safer working conditions and a strengthened “Made in Britain” identity.
Two other projects showcased innovation beyond the factory:
- Robocrop, a mobile quadruped robot for inspecting crops in unstructured environments.
- “Ratty the Robot”, a low-cost autonomous system for pipe inspection.
Both highlight how robotics can solve practical, sector-specific problems — improving safety, sustainability, and productivity in areas far removed from traditional automation.
The Path to Successful Adoption
For companies considering automation, MTC’s approach focuses on partnership rather than product. Their emphasis is on building capability, not dependency. It’s not enough to install robots; success depends on internal skills, data literacy, and continuous improvement. As Professor Wilson noted, “the goal is to sweat the assets, not the people.”
The economic potential is staggering. By 2035, if automation and robotics achieve their full potential, the UK could unlock nearly £150 billion in additional GVA. That value would flow not just from manufacturing, but from construction, food production, logistics, healthcare, and energy.
Professor Wilson closed on a statement:
“The problem for the UK labour market and our economy is not that we have too many robots in the workplace, but that we have too few.”
The UK needs to move beyond seeing robots as job-takers and start viewing them as productivity multipliers.
Final Thoughts
The data makes the case for robotics clear, but the human factors, leadership, skills, and vision, will determine how far we go. Robots alone won’t solve our productivity puzzle, but they can help us work smarter, not harder. And as Professor Wilson’s talk made clear, the future of UK industry will depend not on how many robots we can build, but on how wisely we choose to use them.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below and please follow the Central London Network on X (Twitter) and Facebook.
Did you know that Savoy place has a 24/7 webcam? https://www.theiet.org/about/our-venues/iet-london-savoy-place-webcam
