Many companies that make the leap are blighted by a lack of skilled workers and a thinned-out domestic supply chain.

And firms may increasingly opt to recruit in the global rather than domestic market to mitigate domestic supply problems.

Manufacturers may beef up domestic supply chains to protect themselves against overseas shutdowns.

The power projects side, which supplies more permanent kit, often to countries whose economic development has outstripped domestic supply, was up by 5 per cent.

Today the demand for nuns remains but the domestic supply has dried up.