Forging a Powerful Future for Manufacturing
We champion UK manufacturing - and it’s drive for innovation, growth, and resilience through our expert support and bold advocacy.
Manufacturing truly is the engine of the UK economy.
- Accounting for £217 billion of output.
- Providing 2.6 million jobs.
- Paying wages 10% higher than the economy average.
Delivering almost half the UK’s total goods exports.
Until last year, we were the 8th largest manufacturing economy in the world, we’re now 12th. To get back into that top 10, we need to first grow our sector from 10% to 15% of GDP and help our SMEs realise their scale up ambitions in the next decade.
Achieve both and, according to Make UK analysis, we can boost the UK economy by at least £142bn and propel ourselves to 7th in the manufacturing world rankings.
This will also create more jobs and raise more money for public services, while driving a substantial uplift in long-term domestic and foreign investment.
In 2025, we’re calling on the Government to back the sector by:
- Introducing an industrial strategy that delivers for manufacturers.
- Creating good jobs and shared prosperity.
- Unlocking innovation and accelerating digitalisation.
- Driving decarbonisation and green growth.
Last year, we successfully championed the manufacturing sector’s desire for an industrial strategy and its role in leading the way on economic growth, new technologies, and creating a workforce fit for the future.
Here are just some of our policy wins in 2024:
- Government announcing plans to introduce an industrial strategy, after a decade of campaigning by Make UK.
- Apprenticeship Levy reform, with the introduction of a Growth and Skills Levy designed to make training more accessible to businesses of all sizes.
- The Recovery Loan Scheme being extended until 2026, bringing greater certainty to businesses’ post-pandemic recovery and future planning.
- Further devolution deals, empowering our regions to take decisions in the local interest.
- Seeing new employment rights measures delayed until 2026, giving businesses more time to get ready.
- The Labour Government carrying forward the Conservatives’ commitments to permanent full expensing and roll-out of Made Smarter to all remaining English regions, supporting digitalisation and sustainability in manufacturing.
And many more. Our campaigns secured remarkable policy victories that fortify the future of the manufacturing sector, its resilience and growth.
Our Campaigns
Introduce an industrial strategy that delivers for manufacturers
Make UK has long called for the creation of a sustained, modern, industrial strategy. Now, we are determined to make it a success. To ensure it delivers for manufacturers, it must seek to fix the skills crisis, address high energy costs and improve access to finance for businesses as a priority.
Create good jobs and shared prosperity
Providing high-skill, high-paid jobs in every region and nation of the UK, our sector is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity and ensuring a diverse and inclusive workplace. Working in partnership with government there is even more we can do: on productivity, apprenticeships, vocational training and lifelong learning.
Unlock innovation and accelerate digitalisation
British innovation and creativity are world-leading, but we need to bridge the gap in bringing innovations to market and supporting smaller companies to scale. The Modern Industrial Strategy must address these challenges by:
Supporting smaller businesses to digitalise their factories; prioritising investment in research and development; and forging innovation into AI, new materials, and green tech
Drive decarbonisation and green growth
The manufacturing sector is key to developing the green technologies needed to achieve the UK’s net-zero goals and become a clean energy leader. To support this, the Government must improve the skills system to grow engineering expertise, offer targeted support to reduce manufacturers' energy costs and incentivise energy efficiency, and reform the planning system to boost investment in renewable energy generation and storage.
We are backing #UKmfg
Make sure to follow the team on LinkedIn and X: @MakeUKCampaigns for all the latest insights.
Become a member
We give our members a voice and enable manufacturers to connect, share and solve problems together. Our members meet like-minded others, facing the same issues. They gain insight, support and meet new suppliers.