Barry Leahey MBE (pictured), Export Leader of The Year, shares insights on the UK industries blazing an international trail…
Those outside of the manufacturing industry might be forgiven for thinking that the UK doesn’t “make stuff” anymore – but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Ask someone who isn’t in the know about what the UK makes and exports around the world, and you may hear a few exceptions: steel, cars, textiles. But we offer the world more than that, with many niche manufacturing businesses leading the way in innovation.
My work in international trade as President of Playdale Playgrounds, a manufacturer of innovative playground equipmentand designs, led to myself being awarded Export Leader of the Year 2024. Recently, we expanded our international presence to 52 countries through 38 distributors, and exports account for 50% of our manufactured products.
A domestic and international strategy has been a key factor in this growth, which is why last year we reported a compound annual growth rate of 21% over three years, surpassing the industry average of 9.9%.
UK manufacturers are brimming with optimism, despite sailing through challenging waters over the past decade – and making up 9% of the UK economy’s GDP and generating £224bn of output in 2024, UK manufacturing is here to stay.
Most recently, some international manufacturers fear a “Trumpcession” due to the US government’s controversial tariff strategy, though 63% of UK manufacturers continue to think the opportunities in UK manufacturing greatly outweigh the risks.
There is no shortage of talent in the UK, with skills present in various manufacturing industries. If you’re dreaming of starting your own manufacturing business but worry it’s too niche or simply “not done in Britain,” you may be missing out.
I’ve highlighted five UK industries, alongside respective businesses, that are commanding respect from both national and international markets, proving that Britain can and is leading the way in manufacturing.
Battery lawnmowers
The UK has been setting the standard in Europe when it comes to petrol and battery lawnmower manufacturing. This may sound odd at first, but when you consider our heritage for garden parties and luscious green estates, it becomes less surprising!
One thriving British lawnmower manufacturer, Hayter, still engineers its lawnmowers in Spellbrook, Bishop’s Stortford, based in the same factory where it all began nearly 80 years ago. They also hold the royal warrant for supplying horticultural machinery to His Majesty the King’s royal estates.
Lawnmower manufacturing is an example of British engineering so impressive that the US took notice, with US industry-leading lawnmower manufacturer, Toro, acquiring Hayter in 2005.
To this day, our illustrious lawnmower engineering skills are alive and well – with lawnmowers still being designed, engineered and built in Hertfordshire.
“Hayter’s success, engineering world-class lawnmowers for almost 80 years, is a testament to how quality workplace support can guide long-term strategic success,” says Hayter’s Product Marketing Manager, Chris Cooper. “The UK has the talent and the drive. If you can think it, our workers can make it!”
Security panelling
Did you know that a company based in Wales is a world leader in the bespoke manufacturing of secure panels?
Protecting people, assets and infrastructure is a serious business, and Securiclad offers government-approved panels for high-risk areas that are shipped across the world. These Wales-manufactured panels can be produced to spec for the nuclear sector, in the IT sector to protect against data hacks, in transport to protect high-risk cargo areas and more.
Securiclad has even used its UK manufacturing talent to produce high-security panels for a Hong Kong bank. When Hong Kong comes to the UK for some of the highest-level security manufacturing products, it’s safe to say the UK panelling industry is renowned worldwide.
Wire joining and tensioning systems
The UK is home to plenty of innovators, creating bespoke solutions and improvements to products that are used across the world.
An industry as niche as wire joining and tensioning systems is represented in our cohort of business leaders, with trailblazer Gripple leading the way in wire joining and tensioning solutions that are used in over 85 countries worldwide – a long way from their humble beginnings in Sheffield 1989.
Still manufacturing in Sheffield, as well as Norfolk, the US, India, and other factories to satisfy local markets, it’s important to recognise that the UK is not a nation of shopkeepers, but is instead home to a wealth of manufacturing talent.
In fact, “Making things” makes up 35% of all UK goods and services exports, making it a crucial driver for growth in the UK.
Manufacturing businesses, whether they produce niche products or everyday necessities, are alive, kicking and a fundamental aspect of our economy.
Advanced composite materials
The UK is a world leader in the manufacturing of advanced composite materials, too, particularly when it comes to fixing potholes and repairing damage to roads at home and away.
Instarmac, a multi-award winning manufacturer based in Staffordshire, has been manufacturing UltraCrete products, which include innovative fast-setting repair mortars for ironwork reinstatements, cold-lay asphalt for potholes and plenty more, for over 40 years.
Their innovative products have been recognised by local authorities in the UK and abroad, being used in countries such as Canada, Dubai and 30+ worldwide distributors.
This means that road surfacing manufactured in Staffordshire is currently in use on Canada’s Gardiner Expressway, across Reykjavík, Iceland and beyond.
“Being a UK manufacturer comes with a mark of pride internationally; we find it’s synonymous with quality and only settling for the best,” says Instarmac Brand Manager Richard Moss. “I think both private companies and local authorities abroad see that we make our products in the UK to a standard that local authorities trust – and if it meets the UK’s high standards, it must be of undeniable quality.”
Bespoke cable assemblies
And – about as niche as niche can get – the UK is also home to impressive cable assembly manufacturers.
Based in Hampshire, GTK has risen from humble beginnings in the 1990s to world-class acclaim – using bespoke manufacturing techniques to produce advanced cable assemblies for industries ranging from UAV production to the offshore and Defence industries.
Fast forward to 2025, this example of British engineering and design excellence has manufacturing facilities in the UK, Romania and the Far East.
UK manufacturing is one of the sharpest tools in the UK economy’s belt, and as our world-leading businesses continue to lead the way, I hope that the next generation of manufacturing entrepreneurs continues to lead the way both at home and across the globe.
