The Made in Britain team has successfully completed one of its key 2024 initiatives: raising awareness of Made in Britain companies and the official trademark, at all three major UK-wide political party Autumn Conferences, for the second year in a row. This year, Made in Britain’s focus was to amplify the voice of British manufacturing by engaging with MPs, councillors, and key stakeholders, ensuring that all 650 MPs and their constituency offices have the tools and access to discover and support their local UK manufacturers.
Made in Britain’s participation as an exhibitor at these events raised awareness and emphasised the importance of manufacturing to the UK, in the context of the economy, environment and society. By providing MPs with an online map tool to identify and engage with their nearest Made in Britain manufacturers, we encouraged them to develop support and relationships, visit factories, and represent these businesses, and Made in Britain, in Westminster.
Engaging with Political Leaders
Led by John Pearce, CEO, Camilla Hadcock, Chairman of the Board (and Owner/Director of Roach Bridge Tissues), and Peter Atmore, Director (and Head of Global Sales and Marketing of Fracino), the Made in Britain team engaged in in-depth discussions with MPs, councillors, and stakeholders at each conference.
Our journey began at the Liberal Democrats Party Conference in Brighton, where our presence was well-received by the 72 newly elected LibDem MPs. Made in Britian met with figures including Chris Coghlan MP, Claire Young MP, Chris Fox MP and Helen Maguire BEM. Curtis Bligh, Head of Marketing Communications at Excell Metal Spinning Ltd, also joined the Made in Britain team, and attended the Business Day, at which Sarah Olney MP and Ed Davey spoke.
At the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, we spoke with senior figures including Angela Rayner, Deputy Prime Minister, and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Jonathan Reynolds, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Al Carns, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans), Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, and Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, as well as many of Labour’s 231 of new MPs, including Antonia Bance. Made in Britain member, Mantle Packaging, also joined the exhibition stand, represented by Managing Director Laura Sieczkowski.
At the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham, Made in Britian met with figures including Kevin Hollinrake, Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jeremey Hunt Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, Claire Coutinho, Shadow Secretary of State of Climate Change and Net Zero, Edward Argar, Shadow Secretary of State for Justice, The Lord Johnson of Lainston CBE and Sir John Redwood, Former Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade. We also attended the Party’s SME Business Day, at which Katie Lam MP and Alison Griffiths MP spoke, together with Party Chairman Richard Fuller CBE MP.
Wider Stakeholders
In addition to politicians and councillors, Made in Britain also met a range of notable other stakeholders. This included (but was in no way limited to) major buyers of UK made products, such as: National Grid, Wates, Bute Energy, Heathrow Airport Limited, and Rolls Royce.
Looking Ahead: Building on Conference Success
Reflecting on Made in Britain’s experience at the conferences, CEO John Pearce said, "Attending these events is the most effective way to showcase the strength of our community of over 2,100 British manufacturers. The level of interest from MPs and stakeholders in understanding where their local manufacturers are and how they can support them was truly inspiring."
The Made in Britain team is following up with the connections made, continuing the conversations sparked at the conferences, and deepening our partnerships across the political landscape, as well as wider stakeholders.
Made in Britain remains committed to being a strong voice for UK manufacturing, and our active engagement at these political conferences is just one of the many ways we continue to champion our members and the products they proudly create.
For more information on Made in Britain’s work with government and supply please click here, or email trade@madeinbritain.org.
By Made in Britain 1 month ago | Government & Supply Chains