COVID-19 has caused widespread and immediate disruption to international supply chains, including:

  • Reduced availability of goods and labour
  • Restrictions on movement of products around the world
  •  ‘Complete supply chain shut-downs/halts’
  • Tax, regulatory and reputational challenges associated with rapid supply chain reorganisation

In the longer term, these challenges will give rise to supply chain reorganisation and further changes, from the adoption of new channels like ecommerce, to the exploration of new technologies like blockchain.

Investing in the UK provides a clear route for businesses worldwide to build resilience into their supply chains, thanks to its powerful combination of:

  • Innovation
  • Investment
  • Infrastructure

Across a series of two webinars titled– Playing By New Rules: supply chains challenges and opportunities in 2020 , the UK Government’s Department for International Trade and CNBC Catalyst partnered to examine how these macro themes are affecting two of the most exciting and high-potential sectors of the economy, sectors that resonate with CNBC’s influential audience – Artificial Intelligence & Advanced Manufacturing – to ensure that the UK plays an even more important role in global supply chains in a post-COVID world.

Hosted by BAFTA-winning journalist Emma Crosby, Playing By New Rules played to the strengths of UK DIT and the dynamic business leaders interviewed, showcasing the myriad ways in which UK enterprise is seeing success in the face of CV-19 interruption and keeping the supply chain moving. It explored the themes that affect these sectors, and highlighted the decisive steps being taken by the UK government to ensure both immediate resilience and long-term performance.

In Reimagining Advanced Manufacturing we heard from leading companies and international trade experts, including Philippa Glover, Managing Director, CNC Robotics; Graham Stuart MP, Minister for Exports, DIT; Piers Thynne, Production Director, McLaren Racing; Leanne Kemp, Founder and CEO, Everledger; and Craig Kerr, Aerospace and Defense Consulting Leader, PWC.

In The Supply Chain’s Digital Frontier we heard from global supply chain experts and dynamic businesses in the digital field, including Daria Johen, Global Product Head, Supply Chain Finance, HSBC; Jonathan Marshall, Partner, Health Industries, Procurement and Supply Chain Management, PwC; Keith Weed, Independent Director; Dave Palmer, Director of Technology, Darktrace; and Lord Grimstone of Boscobel Kt, Minister for Investment, DIT.

These webcasts are driving awareness of the strength and resilience of the UK supply chain to CNBC’s audience of 11.4M global decision makers.

View the full webcasts and immersive brand feature on CNBC.com: https://www.cnbc.com/advertorial/readytotrade/