Daily Manufacturing News Digest – the industry stories you should be aware of today

Posted on 1 May 2026 by Molly Cooper

Each day The Manufacturer compiles the top manufacturing news stories from around the web and compiles them into this daily digest to make your life a little easier. Don’t forget to bookmark this page and check back daily for all the latest manufacturing news.

The Bentley Foundation announces the National Portrait Gallery as its second philanthropic partner

Bentley Motors and the Bentley Foundation has announced the National Portrait Gallery as its second philanthropic partner, following the launch of its partnership with The Queen’s Reading Room, reinforcing the Foundation’s long term commitment to expanding access to culture, creativity and opportunity for future generations. Read more via The Manufacturer

Engineering and technology continues to rank in top five degrees

New research from EngineeringUK reveals computing and ‘engineering and technology’ were the 4th and 5th most popular university degree subjects across all levels of study in the UK. Read more via The Manufacturer

Made Smarter launches practical AI toolkit to help manufacturers cut through complexity

A new guide from Made Smarter is helping manufacturers cut through the noise around artificial intelligence and focus on what actually works on the factory floor. Read more via The Manufacturer

Manufacturing – the forgotten engine for UK growth

In an exclusive blog for The Manufacturer, Tim Mills, Managing Partner at ACF Investors discusses how the British economy remains in a precarious position. Stagnating productivity, sluggish growth forecasts, and concerns over the UK’s waning competitiveness in innovation all point to a rocky road towards recovery. Read more via The Manufacturer