Insider Media Limited

Manufacturing and exports are the “engine that will drive growth in Great Britain PLC”, according to a West Midlands entrepreneur. William Chase, the creator of Chase Vodka and Tyrells Crisps, made his comments as he plans to launch his vodka range in the Far East next month.

Chase said: “Since the eighties, Britain has become more and more dependent on service industries but now, following global economic meltdown, it is our manufacturing industries that will create the jobs to lead us out of recession.”

The Herefordshire-based entrepreneur said that despite the USA being a “huge market” for his vodka range, China “could possibly become the largest market of all”. Chase Vodka will launch in Shanghai next month.

Chase’s views are supported by figures from the Office National Statistics (ONS) which record that manufacturing output was up by 5.8 per cent in October 2010 from the previous 12 months.

“Manufacturing now looks set to be at the heart of the re¬balanced growth the economy needs with sectors most exposed to international markets likely to post the highest growth,” said Lee Hopley, chief economist at Engineering Employers Federation (EEF).

Chase said: “The government and ‘expert’ analysts have been informing us for the last 20 years that British manufacturing is dead and that our small island should rely on the city slickers, traders, bankers and service suppliers. Rolls-Royce and Chase Distillery are proving just how wrong this was.”