It’s an often-repeated myth that the UK doesn’t make things anymore.
The reality is that we are still the ninth largest manufacturing nation in the world and the sector plays a vital role as an employer, exporter and innovator. British-made goods are celebrated and sought-after around the world, with manufacturing accounting for 44% of all the UK’s overseas sales. Manufacturing still contributes 10% of UK Gross Value Added (GVA), represents 70% of all business Research and Development (R&D) spend and directly employs 2.7 million people1. However, the sector is also currently facing a diverse range of challenges that might be unprecedented in its history and we wanted to give manufacturers a platform to share their insights, ambitions and anxieties.