Reshoring UK (www.reshoringuk.co.uk) — founded by the GTMA — represents a number of engineering associations and has been developed with the goal of connecting manufacturers with accredited suppliers that can provide technical support, specialist products and niche services.

Users can select a category that is relevant to their needs, with sub-categories to help focus their search; they can also choose from industry sectors and even by association membership, while a region filter provides the choice between regions and country.

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 in this publication, with more than a third of firms saying they are planning to move manufacturing processes back to the UK that were previously offshored to territories like Asia and
Eastern Europe.

The survey also shows that the prime motive for this (cited by 71% of those with these plans) is to improve quality — “a telling endorsement of the high standards that British manufacturers and workers uphold, which also has extremely positive implications for UK supply chains”.

GTMA CEO Julia Moore said: “Matching the needs of businesses that are reshoring — or just searching for the ‘lost skills’ that the engineering market-place can provide — demonstrates where the Reshoring Web site excels.

“It can make the compiling of an end-to-end supply chain much more efficient, minimising the ‘leg work’ required to find businesses that are capable and competent enough to provide the support required.”

The trade associations that have already joined Reshoring UK include: GTMA, Composites UK, Rail Forum Midlands, EIA (Engineering Industries Association), AILU (Association of Industrial Laser Users), BAF (British Abrasives Federation), CBM (Confederation of British Metalforming), CMF (Cast Metals Federation), WAF (Welsh Automotive Forum), BTMA (British Turned Parts Manufacturing Association) and MMMA (Metalforming Machinery Makers Association).

Support has also come from the UK’s High Value Manufacturing Catapult Centre, and a number of Catapult Centres are also members.

These include: AFRC (Advanced Forming Research Centre), MTC (Manufacturing Technology Centre), WMG (Warwick Manufacturing Group), NCC (National Composites Centre).