Consumers In The Dark About British Inventions
23rd June 2014
Telephone, TV and Jet Engine Are 'Britain's Best Inventions', but Consumers Are in the Dark About Them Being British.
Britain invented the telephone[1], TV[2] and the jet engine[3]. We also invented hypodermic syringes[4] and ATM/cashpoints[5] too. But a new report warns that consumers are in the dark about Britain's role in bringing cutting-edge products to the world - and this lack of awareness could damage our ability to innovate in the future:
Best British inventions: the telephone[1], TV[2] and jet engine[3], but little over half of consumers (54%) think the jet engine is a British invention
In the dark: only a quarter of consumers (25%) are aware Britain gave the world ATM/cashpoints[5] – even less (23%) know we invented the automatic kettle too[6]
Living in the past: while seven in ten (69%) are aware that Britain invented the steam engine[7], just two in ten (22%) know we're behind modern-day carbon fibre[8]
Unimpressed: over half of consumers (51%) take a cutting-edge gadget or tool for granted within a month of having it
Make it Britain: despite our rich heritage, only half of consumers (51%) think that Britain is good at both inventing and manufacturing.
Consumers are unaware of what British inventiveness has contributed to the world and this could hinder our future ability to innovate, warns a new report – Pioneering Great British Products - out today from EEF, the manufacturers' organisation, and Siemens. It says that by failing to celebrate the 'brains' behind Britain's life-changing inventions, we are failing to provide our next generation with heroes - and leaving young people with little reason to want to follow in their footsteps.
According to consumers, Britain's best inventions are the telephone[1], TV[2] and the jet engine[3]. But despite these now being a common part of everyday life, four in ten (39%) are unaware that a Brit invented the phone, while little over half (54%) realise that British brains were behind the jet engine. Even the TV, ever-present in most homes, is only recognised by 57% as a British invention.
More worryingly, many seem to see British inventiveness as something in the past – almost seven in ten (69%) are aware that we invented the steam engine[7], while just over two in ten (22%) are aware we gave the world modern-day carbon fibre[8] too.
According to consumers, the main attribute of a 'great invention' is that it improves quality of life (66%). Almost six in ten say that a great invention radically changes everyday life (59%), makes life easier (57%) or solves a problem (57%). Many of the things we use on a daily basis tick these boxes. However, familiarity doesn't breed any greater recognition for its roots. Just a quarter of consumers are aware that ATM/cashpoint machines[5] (25%) and the automatic kettle[6] (23%) are a British 'claim to fame'.
The report – due to be launched by Vince Cable, Business Secretary, at Liverpool's Life Sciences University Technology College later today[13] - marks the beginning of Manufacturing, Science and Technology Week, sponsored by EEF, at the International Festival for Business in Liverpool. It looks at Britain's strong heritage in bringing ground-breaking products to the world, while also unveiling five cutting-edge, British inventions: the AIRLANDER airship, Raspberry Pi, the SABRE engine (Synergetic Air Breathing Rocket Engine), Seafloor Production Tools and the i-limb bionic hand.
It warns that low awareness and recognition, the speed with which people now take new technology for granted and an apparent belief that Britain's glory days of invention are in the past, could be significant factors contributing to the skills gap today and potentially hinder Britain's future ability to innovate.
Worryingly, this lack of recognition means that only half of consumers (51%) think that Britain is good at both inventing and manufacturing. However, the final challenge for up and coming innovators is the speed with which new inventions are taken for granted. Over half of consumers (51%) admit to taking their last cutting-edge product or gadget for granted within just a month of owning it. Almost seven in ten (69%) are over the excitement within six months.
Business Secretary Vince Cable said: "This report serves as a very good reminder of the UK's considerable strengths in manufacturing, and the current revival that we're seeing in the sector is highly encouraging. The Government is working closely with manufacturing businesses to give them the confidence to invest, securing highly-skilled jobs, a stronger economy, and more world-shaping inventions in the future."
Terry Scuoler, CEO of EEF, says: “Inventiveness and resourcefulness are written into our collective DNA. Unfortunately, our strengths appear to be flying under the radar and this could damage our ability to innovate in the future. If we want to Make it Britain then we have to wake up Britain to the innovation, creativity and design going on within our shores today. Our success didn't end with the steam engine – it carries on from strength to strength with carbon fibre, bionic limbs and now the hypersonic engine too. We should be proud of what our inventiveness contributes to the world.
“If Britain is to continue to innovate then we need to start shouting about our achievements. We have to ensure that everyone is aware that success lies before us and not just in the past. Above all, we must give greater recognition to our inventors and innovators, so as to encourage more young people to want to learn the right skills to follow in their footsteps.”
Consumer research conducted on behalf of EEF by YouGov. Total sample size was 2,284 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 28th - 29th April 2014. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+). To create table of top ten British inventions, respondents were shown 22 British inventions and asked to select their top 5.
1. Alexander Graham Bell (Edinburgh born), created a receiver that could turn electricity into sound in 1875. He was granted a patent for the telephone in 1876.
2. Scottish born John Logie Baird gave the first demonstration of television in 1926.
3. Frank Whittle (born in Coventry), had an idea of using the gas turbine for jet propulsion, he patented the jet engine in 1930.
4. Alexander Wood (born in Scotland) is credited with developing the first hypodermic syringe in 1853.
5. John Shepherd-Barron (born in India to Scottish parents) invented the hole in the wall automatic cash dispenser. The first machine was installed in London during 1967.
6. Englishmen William Russell and Peter Hobbs (Russell Hobbs) launched the automatic kettle in 1955. The kettle automatically switched off once it had boiled.
7. Englishman Thomas Savery patented the basic steam engine in 1698.
8. The Royal Aircraft Establishment in Farnborough created carbon fibre composite in 1963.
9. Englishman Frederick de Moleyns was granted the first patent for an incandescent lamp in 1841. In 1878 Joseph Swan (born in Sunderland) received a British patent for his light bulb that had a carbon paper filament. Thomas Edison developed a more efficient bulb in 1879, Swan and Edison formed a joint company in 1883.
10. Michael Faraday (born in England) used a mercury bath to transform electrical energy into mechanical energy, creating a basic electric motor in 1821.
11. Percy Shaw (born in Yorkshire) came up with the idea of a reflective road marker in 1933 and received a patent for his 'cats eyes' invention in 1934.
12. The Rover safety bicycle was designed by Englishman John Kemp Starley in 1885. At the time manufacturers were developing different designs to create a safer alternative to the Penny Farthing. The Rover safety bicycle proved the most popular and is recognisable as a modern day bike.
13. Monday 23rd June, 2014, 10.30am to 11.30am, Liverpool Life Sciences UTC, 41 Greenland Street, Liverpool, L1 0BS. For further details and joining instructions, please call Jo Ganly on: 07940 705777.
About EEF
EEF, the manufacturers' organisation is the representative voice of manufacturing in the UK together with UK Steel. EEF has a growing membership of over 6,000 companies of all sizes, employing some 900,000 people from every sector of engineering, manufacturing, engineering construction and technology-based industries.
