Make UK has published its 2026 Makers’ Manifesto which sets out the practical actions needed to unlock investment, strengthen UK manufacturing and drive re-industrialisation.
Manufacturing is one of Britain’s greatest economic strengths. It generates £220bn in output, supports 2.6 million jobs and anchors growth in communities across the UK. But if the UK is serious about growth, resilience and competitiveness, it must now move from Industrial Strategy to industrial delivery.
The UK has a major opportunity to reindustrialise. Increasing manufacturing’s share of GDP from 10% to 15% could add £142bn to the economy. But that ambition will only be realised if government tackles the barriers holding manufacturers back: high energy costs, skills shortages, weak investment conditions, outdated business rates, slow infrastructure delivery and growing regulatory burdens.
The 2026 Makers’ Manifesto sets out the action needed to turn the Industrial Strategy into growth on the ground. It calls for urgent delivery across the foundations manufacturers need to invest, expand and compete globally.
- Competitive industrial energy costs so manufacturers can invest and decarbonise.
- A fair and flexible labour market that supports hiring, skills and productivity.
- Reform of business rates and wider business costs to unlock investment.
- Stronger regional powers to drive reindustrialisation across the UK.
- A modern skills system that builds the next generation of manufacturing talent.
- Faster planning, better infrastructure and more resilient supply chains.
- A clearer, simpler regulatory framework that supports growth.
Manufacturers back the ambition of the Industrial Strategy, but more than half have yet to see its benefits. The message from industry is clear: the strategy must not be paused, diluted or reworked. It must be accelerated, funded and delivered.
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