3 minute read - 19th May 2023
Feature: Marked for success – Why British businesses value the Made in Britain mark
Following the publication of its fourth annual survey, Made in Britain CEO John Pearce looks at why so many British businesses value the Made in Britain mark.
Made in Britain’s core objective is to help British manufacturers sell more, at home and abroad, through their licensed use of the Made in Britain registered, collective mark. As such, we are delighted to reveal that recently conducted nationwide research, conducted by OnePoll polling 1,000 decision makers at UK companies, has shown that the mark is recognised today by 66% of British businesses – a significant majority.
This is because Made in Britain members display the mark on their products, packaging and marketing materials, signposting businesses – and consumers – to British-made products. It has become a renowned and trusted symbol of manufacturing quality, high standards and truly British provenance.
The mark was launched in 2015, just eight years ago. Today, there are close to 2,000 British manufacturers within our membership community, enjoying licensed use of the mark.
Picture: Pitchmark
Trusted symbol
Global research on the importance of trust, monitoring various social and economic metrics, show declining levels of public confidence in governments, public institutions and sectors of business. The renowned Edelman trust barometer, this year finds that business is the only institution seen as “competent and ethical.”
The Made in Britain mark has been cutting through. We conducted nationwide research in mid-January 2023, together with OnePoll, polling 1,000 businesses across the UK. We found that just eight years after the launch of the mark:
• 66% of British businesses recognise the Made in Britain mark.
• Of those businesses that recognise the mark, 61% say seeing the mark on a product makes them more inclined to purchase it.
Businesses and consumers are seeing the mark on thousands of products across our 50 diverse sectors including trade and retail goods.
Picture: British Drum Company
High demand for buying British
As well as polling UK businesses, we also polled 2,000 British adults in mid-January to better understand buying British sentiment amid the cost of living crisis. We learnt that 58% of UK consumers prefer to purchase UK-made goods and that a huge number, 54%, are prepared to pay a premium to do so – saying they prefer to buy British-manufactured products “regardless of cost.”
We also found that:
• 50% of British consumers recognise the Made in Britain mark.
• Of those consumers that recognise the mark, 66% say seeing the mark on a product makes them more inclined to purchase it.
We look forward to increasing mark recognition yet further throughout this year and the coming years. Our aim is for everyone in the UK to recognise the mark, understanding that it is a signpost to products made by British manufacturing businesses that deserve our trust. Ultimately, the more people – across the UK and throughout the world – that recognise the Made in Britain mark identifying great British products, the more our members will be successful at selling UK-made goods both on the domestic market and abroad.
John Pearce, Made in Britain CEO / Picture: Made in Britain