INDUSTRY

The Industrial Revolution began in England, and Britain was the first country to have an industrial structure.
In the 19th century it was significantly called “ the workshop of the world”. Later it lost its industrial supremacy but
was able to modernize its plants and adapt them to meet changing needs. Today Britain is still one of the world’s leading
nations in the field of industry, in the advanced application of high technology, and in the extensive use of electronics
and automated control in production and services.

The main centre of old heavy industry are traditionally located on or near the major coalfields in central and northern
England, South Wales and Scotland. The tendency for the newer industries, however, is to develop in different regions too,
so modern plants are now widespread.
Britain’s traditional industries include iron and steel production, which is found chiefly in Yorkshire and the Sheffield
area; Shipbuilding, which is centred on Clydeside, Liverpool, Belfast; The textile industry, which is based mainly on wool,
cotton, linen and synthetic fibres and is chiefly located in Lancashire, and engineering, which includes all kinds of
machinery, from tractors and machine tools to construction equipment and scientific instruments.
Among the newer industries, car manufacturing already has a long tradition but is now dominated by a few large groups owned
by foreign capital, including Rover, Ford, Vauxhall, Peugeot-Talbot.

The main centre of the British car industry is Coventry. Other important industries of recent development are the chemicals
industry, the aircraft industry and electrical and electronic engineering, which produces an extensive range of computer,
telecommunications equipment and electronic instrument as well as radio and television sets, transmission equipment. The
food and drink industry, however, is the largest in terms of annual output and number of employees.
Other important sectors include paper, printing and publishing, which are centred in London, clothing manufacturing,
furniture and pottery.