Innovation and authenticity to drive growth in manufacturing post-Brexit
Innovation and authenticity will be the key drivers of growth in manufacturing post Brexit, was the overarching message of over 100 leading British manufacturers, producers and brands at this year鈥檚 最新糖心Vlog Forum at the Textile Centre of Excellence, Huddersfield.
UK Manufacturers and British-made brands came together at our annual 最新糖心Vlog Forum to debate how to be uniquely British and capitalise on customers鈥� desire to buy British-made products, with demand for British-made goods up 36% in the last five years.
Mark Jarvis, Managing Director, World Textile Information Network, gave delegates an inspiring glimpse of the impact of digitisation, describing the capabilities of microprocessors woven into fabrics, connecting garments to the internet in a new and innovative way. 鈥淥ur opportunities for growth in materials and manufacturing lie in digitisation,鈥� he urged.
鈥�Our opportunities for growth in materials and manufacturing lie in digitisation鈥� – Mark Jarvis, World Textile Information Network
鈥淐ollaboration is vital and mass personalisation is the key to meet the needs of the consumer. By 2025 the power will shift to the consumer. Every manufacturer has the opportunity to be one of the most innovative and leading in the UK. The opportunity is there to put us at the forefront of agile manufacturing. But we mustn鈥檛 be lulled into inaction.鈥�
His rallying call certainly inspired delegates at the forum – business owners and operators – to tell their personal journeys, enjoying the opportunity to share ideas and learn from each other. But how do businesses tell their own compelling 鈥榤ade in Britain鈥� stories in order to get noticed in an overcrowded market?
In today’s market it鈥檚 not enough to simply stick a Union Jack on your product in order to translate desire into sales. The central theme discussed by all our speakers was that it’s all about adding value and communicating the quality, provenance and authenticity of your business.
The inspiring line-up of speakers included Stephen Bent, International Sourcing/Production Manager, Dr Martens, who helped to demystify social media as a means to help promote your British brand, sharing details of the Dr Martens鈥� project to engage their apprentices with social media, claiming: 鈥淭heir passion for our brand and confidence in using social media enables them to share the message in their own individual ways. We鈥檝e found three out of four of our apprentices through Instagram.鈥�
“We鈥檝e found three out of four of our apprentices through Instagram鈥� – Stephen Bent, Dr Martens
鈥淲e need to bang the drum about the good ethical practices of British producers,鈥� added Olly Platts, Managing Director, Joshua Ellis & Co. Andy Ogden, Director & General Manager, English Fine Cottons, urged delegates: 鈥渉ave the courage to be authentic and tell your story!鈥�
鈥淲e need to bang the drum about the good ethical practices of British producers鈥� – Oliver Platts, Joshua Ellis & Co
