The basics of innovation : Creating sustainable innovation

Purpose – This paper aims to investigate Bentley Motors Ltd winner of the Manufacturing Institute's 2007 Product Innovation Award for its composite technology and examine the need for UK manufacturing to become far more innovative. Design/methodology/approach – The paper looks at Bentley Motors Ltd's manufacturing innovation and introduces some of the ideas presented at the UK/US Manufacturing Summit. Findings – The paper finds that the UK/US Manufacturing Summit delegates were given some sobering realities about the need for UK manufacturing to become far more innovative, in all aspects, if they are too survive. In particular they were reminded of need to remember the basics of innovation – rather than looking for a silver bullet – and the importance of developing twenty‐first century managers. Originality/value – This paper highlights the need to remember the basics of innovation and the importance of developing twenty‐first century managers.