Half the story

kles of my heart. However the next thought that inevitably enters my head is usually ‘if only they knew half the story’.

Allow me to explain.

I spend quite a lot of my working life visiting companies and writing about them. The approach I tend to favour is to have an informal chat with the managing director/owner/director/engineer (delete as applicable) and discuss a range of topics. I record the conversation on my trusty Dictaphone and then select the best bits to form the basis of an article. Sometimes the interviewee wants to talk about something specific. That’s absolutely fine.

In my privileged position, I get to hear some brilliant stories about the sterling work that UK SMEs are embroiled in. During conversations, because the atmosphere is hopefully relaxed and friendly, tongues are loose, customer names are freely divulged and the nature of the work undertaken is discussed in gratifying detail. But then I ask the million dollar question:

“Is it OK to use any of this in the article?”

That’s when it all goes a bit Pete Tong. Lips are pursed, sharp intakes of breath echo around the room, heads are shaken and the inevitable, predictable retort is rolled out: “You definitely can’t print what we’ve just spoken about – it’s for your ears only.”

I can sense the frustration the customer feels when he or she has to tell me that because I feel it too. Because of the nature of UK manufacturing today, much of the work we undertake is in high tech – and often sensitive – market sectors like aerospace, defence, medical, offshore and F1. The supplier signs the contract on the dotted line and in the same stroke of the pen enters into the confidentiality agreement alongside that prevents divulging any information whatsoever to prying eyes and ears.

I do understand. I really do, but as an editor if I unearth an excellent story that exemplifies everything that’s great about UK manufacturing I just want to shout it from the rooftops. But then again, if I had a process, product or piece of intellectual property that was truly revolutionary and positioned me head and shoulders above the competition, I’d probably want to keep it under wraps too.

Like I said – if they only knew half of it!

Dave Tudor
Editor/Director