Britain’s industrial export strength in the 1960s–1980s, was in heavy engineering, infrastructure, manufacturing, at that time UK companies supplied products and expertise to major projects globally, but over time there was a gradual shift toward finance and services, what was gained was at a high price and what was lost can never be recovered.
British Steel, British Motor Corporation, ICI, British Coal, and many more, where are they now?
During my career I watched the centre of gravity of the British economy move from factories to financial services.