The GTMA, a UK-based trade association, says that most manufacturing companies face the same question about their product range at some point: ‘Do you make it, buy it off-the-shelf or find a sub-contract supplier?’
“Whichever path your business selects — and it could be a mix of all three options — there is now a free-to-use Web site that provides comprehensive end-to-end information covering the most up-to-date products and services to support virtually any manufacturing scenario.”
Launched on 1 August, the Reshoring UK Web site (
www.reshoringuk.co.uk) represents “a collaboration of leading industrial engineering associations that has been developed with the goal of connecting manufacturers with trusted, accredited suppliers capable of providing any technical support, specialist products and niche services required.
Reshoring UK puts a wealth of information at your fingertips to support informed business decisions.”
Users can select a category that is relevant to their needs (there are subcategories to help focus the search), choose from industry sectors (and even by association membership), or find the required product or service via the ‘free text’ search box.
A filter provides the choice between regions and specific countries for suitable suppliers, while the ‘free text’ search box means that bespoke products and services can be quickly identified without the “deluge of information one would receive using an Internet browser”.
GTMA CEO Julia Moore said: “It is an often-repeated misconception that the UK does not make things any more.
“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.
“In fact, British-made goods are 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, represents 70% of all business R&D spend and directly employs 2.7 million people.”
A number of key industry sector organisations are already involved, such as rail, medical and automotive.
Aerospace, pharmaceutical, defence, marine and energy (nuclear, renewables, oil and gas) — along with food and beverage — will be included in the near future.
As one of the key supporters of the reshoring concept, the commercial division of Lloyds Bank has recently issued
‘Business in Britain: Manufacturing. A survey of key sector opinions, trends and insights’. ‘Reshoring and relocation’ is highlighted within this publication, with some 37% of firms saying that they are planning to move offshored manufacturing processes back to the UK.