As the appetite to shop locally and support local businesses grows, Make it British, a community of UK-made brands and manufacturers, is calling on everyone to celebrate UK makers by taking part in the first-ever Made in UK Day on Tuesday 9 March 2021.

Make it British was founded on 9 March 2011 by ex-retail buyer Kate Hills. Hills started a blog to champion all of the products that are made in the UK. Since its launch 10 years ago, the Make it British site has been visited by more than 6.5 million people looking to buy UK-made products and search for UK manufacturers.

This year alone has seen a 68% increase in enquiries since the UK left the EU’s single market and customs union.

Kate Hills, founder of Make it British, says; “It has never been more important to buy products that are made in the UK and support local manufacturing. By pledging to buy products that are made in the UK, you are lowering your carbon footprint; saving essential skills; helping local economies and creating job opportunities. We want everyone to get behind Made in UK Day to celebrate the wonderful makers we have in the UK.”

UK manufacturing is currently worth £192 billion to the UK economy and employs 2.7 million people. More than 65 million people live in the UK; if everyone bought one £20 item made in the UK on Made in UK Day, it would be worth £1.3billion.

Consumers can participate by pledging to buy something that is made in the UK on 9 March.

They can also ask their favourite brands and retailers what, if anything, they sell that is made in the UK. Furthermore, the campaign is encouraged consumers to highlight products that they have bought, or own, that are made in the UK; sharing them on social media using the hashtag #madeinukday.

Businesses that make in the UK can share stories about the people that work in UK manufacturing using the hashtag #madeinukday to help consumers find UK-made products to buy.

For further information on the campaign, please click here.