After two years of consultation and preparation, the government has published a white paper that sets out a proposed UK industrial strategy.

Energy represents just a small part of the strategy. It is mentioned several times among priority sectors and key opportunities for the UK to take a global lead. But the industry’s potential strengths were seen less as traditional engineering and manufacturing opportunities and more as leveraging UK experience in the digital economy, smart systems, financing and market design. The manufacturing and construction focus was on brain not brawn.