Made in Britain UK Economy Barometer 2025
July 2025: The Made in Britain UK Economy Barometer offers a snapshot of performance and perception within the UK manufacturing sector and Made in Britain’s growing membership, now of 2,150 companies.
Headline findings:
- 31% of manufacturers reported turnover growth in the past year, down from 51% in 2024
- 45% expect to grow in the year ahead, down from over 70% last year
- The most cited opportunity was ‘expanding into new regions or markets’, followed by ‘developing new products’
- The most cited challenge remains the ‘high cost of doing business’, echoing last year’s top concern
- 38% of companies engaged with government or publicly funded initiatives
Key context
Drawing on insights from 124 Made in Britain companies across diverse sectors and the whole of the UK, this Barometer focuses on four core themes: turnover, employment, challenges, and business support. The Barometer’s results are published as:
Growing momentum behind buying British
Interest in British-made products continues to rise. Made in Britain’s membership is up by 5% from 2024, with notable joiners including Babcock, Siemens and NHS Northumbria.
There is also growing interest from the public, major public and private buyers and policymakers. Organisations like the Crown Commercial Service, NHS Supply Chain and Leidos are actively seeking to engage UK-based suppliers and SMEs, and have been able to connect with Made in Britain companies through its supply chain programme.
Meanwhile, British manufacturing is also gaining prominence in Parliament, with cross-party support reinforcing its importance to the UK’s economy and identity. Made in Britain is at the forefront, engaging with government and tracking this growing national and political interest in buying British.
Recognising the value of UK manufacturing
UK manufacturing is a key force behind national economic growth, environmental responsibility and social impact. With the introduction of the Procurement Act 2023, updated PPN002, and the Social Value Model – as well as the recently-published Industrial Strategy – UK manufacturers are now better equipped than ever to leverage these initiatives and maximise their positive contributions across society.
To support this, Made in Britain will soon launch a new Environmental and Social Value (ESV) Certification. Please contact esv@madeinbritain.org for more details.
Supporting global trade opportunities
Alongside domestic sales, Made in Britain is committed to helping Made in Britain companies benefit from new international trade deals. The UK’s recent accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), as well as recent agreements with India, the EU, and the US, open doors for exporters.
Made in Britain remains committed to helping UK manufacturers to make the most of these agreements — and promoting British-made products around the world.
“This year’s Barometer of British Manufacturing underscores what we hear every day from Made in Britain companies. They are armed with the resilience and tenacity to succeed, despite multiple economic shocks and random tariff announcements upending their plans and stalling their export decisions. The Barometer once again proves what defines this extraordinary business community – they are already transitioning to become a more coherent and innovative UK sector making goods to secure our future and restore our manufacturing self-confidence.”
— John Pearce, Chief Executive, Made in Britain
Detailed findings from the Barometer
Turnover and growth expectations
Turnover performance has been mixed. While 31% of respondents reported growth in the past year, 43% experienced a reduction. This reflects the wider trading pressures and economic headwinds that face UK manufacturers.
Looking forward, 45% expect their turnover to grow in the next 12 months. Over half want to grow but are held back by inflation, supply issues, and internal capacity.
Employment trends
Employment broadly reflects the same pressures. 40% of manufacturers reduced staff over the past year. Looking ahead, 51% expect to maintain current staffing levels, with around 20% planning to grow their teams.
Challenges facing UK manufacturers
The most significant and consistent pressure cited was the high cost of doing business. This includes energy, materials, staff, shipping and logistics.
Additional widespread concerns include:
- Weak UK economic performance
- Taxation and inflation
- Lack of customer demand
- Skills shortages and supply chain delays
Made in Britain company says: “We are finding that with the current climate and changes, the current government has made it more difficult to grow. We have found that more customers are cautious due to extra costs they face and the high cost of materials and energy”
Opportunities for business improvement
Despite the pressure, manufacturers continue to identify growth potential. Respondents highlighted the following as top areas for performance improvement:
- Expanding into new regions or markets (24%)
- Developing new products (22%)
- Staff training and development (12%)
- Automation and use of AI (11%)
These closely align with last year’s priorities, indicating that forward-thinking, investment-led strategies remain central to post-COVID recovery plans.
Made in Britain company says: "Things feel a bit stagnant right now however we see opportunities down the road to grow and are using current conditions to consolidate ready to drive forward."
Engagement with business support
Business support schemes remain underutilised. 58% of companies did not engage with public business support, with many unaware of how to access it.
- 29% said the support was helpful
- 9% said it was not helpful
- 29% did not know how to access support
- 27% knew how, but chose not to engage
These figures are consistent with last year’s findings and confirm that awareness, accessibility and practical relevance of support programmes requires ongoing attention and work.
Made in Britain company says: "These government groups are very narrow in the help they can provide. The right help would have made a big difference."
Made in Britain invites you to:
- Look out for the Made in Britain trademark — and buy from and support the companies behind it
- Visit madeinbritain.org to discover UK manufacturing companies and UK-made products
- Contact Made in Britain at trade@madeinbritain.com to find out how to support or join the community
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