According to the most recent figures from the Made in Britain group, which represents UK based manufacturers, ‘Buy British’ sentiment was up 20% in 2024 compared with the year before. As a result, almost 6 in 10 businesses now prefer to buy UK manufactured products over imported ones.
That’s obviously great news for businesses like AluK with our long and proud history of manufacturing here. We have our own 350,000 sq ft facility in Chepstow, South Wales, which isn’t just home to our manufacturing, with three dedicated thermal break lines, but also houses our market leading vertical paint line, vast product stockholding, an in-house R&D centre and a UKAS accredited test rig. We employ over 150 here and make a significant contribution to the local and regional economy.
Compare that with some of our competitors who import all their products, have only minimal UK stockholding, no UK-based testing, and a skeleton support staff, and it’s no surprise we’re seeing a steady increase in enquiries from fabricators and installers who want to partner with a business that can support their ambitions for growth.
The stand out 6 in 10 figure comes from Made in Britain’s Buying British survey, which samples 1000 British businesses annually about their buying habits; and the results indicate a growing shift in mentality post-Covid.
Respondents to the 2024 survey said their prime motivator in buying British is support for the UK economy and jobs market (68%), but close behind is the environment (61%), with respondents citing sustainability as a key driver in procurement, alongside social value. In fact, nearly half of British businesses say they now set specific procurement targets for UK-made goods, and the average target is 48% of all goods purchased - a huge 40% increase year on year.
I would argue there’s much more to this shift than a patriotic resurgence – not least the underlying quality and traceability of many UK manufactured goods.
Covid exposed the fragility and volatility of global supply chains in a way none of us could have expected, and that’s before you take into account Brexit, the Ukraine conflict and the return of President Trump and his threats of a trade war. Climate change is also playing into the arguments, with weather and natural disasters disrupting transport routes and damaging infrastructure much more than previously.
I do obviously acknowledge the underlying resilience of most global supply chains, but, in the face of so much international turmoil over recent years, the survey confirms our experience that the current trend in the UK is to look for secure, reliable and above all local solutions.
You can’t overlook the environmental benefits either. We have a regulatory regime in the UK moving inexorably towards net zero, so buyers of UK manufactured goods are safe in the knowledge that producers are prioritising environmental improvements, renewable energy sources, lower waste and emissions and efficient resource management. Products manufactured and distributed here also travel shorter distances to reach the customer, which translates into lower energy consumption and fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
The Made in Britain message is clearly hitting home in both the B2B and B2C sectors, and it’s one which AluK will be pushing hard in 2025 as we make ongoing investments in our factory and in our product development programmes.
The benefits to AluK customers don’t just come from the sales and marketing opportunities presented by growing ‘Buy British’ sentiment, they come from the fact that local manufacturing means consistently reliable quality, more choice, fast lead times, and a more responsive service.
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By Russell Yates, Managing Director, AluK GB
