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PODCAST

Make it British Podcast

Kate Hills is on a one-woman mission to save UK manufacturing. In this podcast she shines the light on British brands and manufacturers, and goes behind the scenes of their businesses. With tips, hints and tricks to help you manufacture in the UK and buy British. Never has there been a more critical time to get behind "made in Britain".

arts fashion & beauty

All Episodes

12:20

SOS: Stop Wasting Time Contacting the Wrong Factories 🏭

Make it British Podcast ·

2025/10/16

Not all factories are created equal.And if you’re contacting 20 different manufacturers hoping one will say yes — you're doing it the hard way.In this episode of MANUFACTURING SOS, I’m talking about one of the most common mistakes I see when people start looking for a UK manufacturer: assuming every factory can make every kind of product.You’ll learn why factory specialisms matter, how MOQs and capacity make a difference, and what you actually need to look for when shortlisting a manufacturer.I’ll

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12:26

SOS: Why Ordering Too Much Stock is a Costly Mistake

Make it British Podcast ·

2025/10/09

In this episode in the MANUFACTURING SOS series, I’m breaking down why placing a big order with your manufacturer, especially on your first production run with them, can be a costly mistake.You’ll learn why it’s always smarter to treat your first production run as a test, how to avoid tying up all your money in stock, and how to respond when a manufacturer insists on high MOQs.If you’re at the stage of placing your first order with a factory, or wondering how many units to start with, don’t miss

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11:06

SOS: What's the REAL Cost of Skipping Tech Packs?

Make it British Podcast ·

2025/10/02

Think tech packs are optional? Or that your manufacturer can just "sort it for you"?Think again.In this episode of Manufacturing SOS, I’m breaking down exactly what happens when you don’t have a proper tech pack, and why skipping this step is one of the most expensive mistakes you can make.You’ll learn why a tech pack is your blueprint, not just a boring admin task, and how trying to wing it will cost you more in sampling, quality control, and wasted materials.I’m also busting the myth that you need

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08:38

SOS: Never ask a factory for the price until you do...

Make it British Podcast ·

2025/09/25

What UK Manufacturers Really Think When You Ask About PriceIf the first thing you ask a factory is “How much?” — you’re not alone.But it might explain why you’re not getting the response you hoped for.In this episode of Manufacturing SOS, I’m unpacking what actually happens when you lead with price, and why it’s one of the fastest ways to put off the best manufacturers.You’ll learn how to work backwards from a realistic retail price, how to spot when your margins just don’t add up, and what to do

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12:53

SOS: Why UK Manufacturers are Ghosting You 👻

Make it British Podcast ·

2025/09/18

If your inbox is full of unanswered emails to factories, it's not personal. It's a sign you're making critical mistakes that scream 'newbie'In this first episode in this special series MANUFACTURING SOS I’m diving into one of the most common frustrations I hear from founders - that they've contacted manufacturers and no one got back to them.Sound familiar?Before you assume UK manufacturers are just ignoring you, you need to hear this.I’m sharing the real reasons factories hit delete, including vague

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02:52

Introducing Manufacturing SOS

Make it British Podcast ·

2025/09/09

Brand New Mini Series Coming Soon: Manufacturing SOSAfter a year-long hiatus, the Make It British Podcast is coming back!Series 7 is currently in the works, but while you wait, I’ve got something special for you…Introducing a brand new mini series called Manufacturing SOS.This special series is for anyone who’s starting or scaling a clothing, accessories or homeware brand and wants to get their products made in the UK without wasting time, money or losing their mind in the process.Each episode is

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01:07:07

Bonus: How to Find a UK Manufacturer

Make it British Podcast ·

2025/01/24

Finding a UK manufacturer doesn’t have to be a challenge!In this bonus episode, I share the recording of my recent webinar, where I break down the 5 essential steps to finding your perfect manufacturing partner.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why manufacturers don’t respond to emails—and how to fix it.The biggest mistakes small businesses make when looking for a factory.How to prepare before reaching out to a manufacturer to save time and money.The 5 steps you need to follow to confidently

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30:59

300 - Words of wisdom from UK manufacturers featured...

Make it British Podcast ·

2024/06/27

Welcome to episode 300!Celebrating the 300th episode of this podcast I look back at some of the amazing guests that I've had on this show from the world of UK fashion and textile manufacturing. Manufacturers that have shared their stories, their challenges, and their successes with us.Episodes / Manufacturers featured in this episode:Episode 102 - David Collinge | John Spencer TextilesEpisode 005 - Keith Hanshaw | The Leather Satchel CompanyEpisode 088 - Chris Woodford | Crown NorthamptonEpisode 193

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16:50

299 – A Visit to Vagabond Bags

Make it British Podcast ·

2024/06/20

Join me on a tour round a factory!In this episode I'm chatting with Simon Michelson, owner of Vagabond Bags, a sewing factory in Swindon that makes cosmetic bags, shower caps and hot water bottle covers.Meet some of the people working in the factory, hear about the jobs they do and find out how many shower hats one person can make in a day. Spoiler - it's quite a lot!HANDY LINKSBritish Brand Accelerator - Work closely with me to start or grow your UK-made brand.Newsletter - Subscribe for a weekly

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41:46

298 – What’s going on with UK manufacturers? [with...

Make it British Podcast ·

2024/06/06

I'm joined today by 3 amazing people that work tirelessly in the UK fashion and textile industry.You may have seen in the press recently that several high profile brands have been affected by the close of Matches, but did you know about the knock on affect that has had on the UK manufacturers?I also heard yesterday the sad news that the Mackintosh factory in Lancashire is closing. What the heck is going on?So I went live on Instagram with 3 special guests to discuss the topic, and this episode is

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12:52

297 – The Biggest Mistake Made by Product Businesses

Make it British Podcast ·

2024/05/30

The title says it all. Listen to find out what it is!HANDY LINKSBritish Brand Accelerator - Work closely with me to start or grow your UK-made brand.Newsletter - Subscribe for a weekly dose of inspiration and advice on making in the UKMake it British WebsiteYouTubeInstagram

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27:09

296 – Behind the Scenes at KC Manufacturing with Adam...

Make it British Podcast ·

2024/05/23

Join me on a visit to KC Manufacturing (previously Kalopsia Collective) in Dumferline, Scotland to meet with husband and wife team Adam Robertson and Nina Falk.KC Manufacturing is a social enterprise specialising in small batch manufacturing.Discover:How Adam & Nina met and ended up setting up their business.What it's like to run a factory together as husband and wife.Why 'made in Scotland' is so important.How KC Manufacturing are supporting other UK textile firms.The challenges of working with

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18:04

295 – 4 Reasons NOT to Make in the UK

Make it British Podcast ·

2024/05/02

Regular listeners to this podcast will know that I am all about encouraging brands to manufacture locally. But in some cases, it might not make good sense to do so.In this episode I explain the 4 reasons why you might NOT want to make in the UK.Want my advice on whether your product should or could be made here? Reach out to my with a direct message on Instagram @makeitbritish hereHANDY LINKSBritish Brand Accelerator - Work closely with me to start or grow your UK-made brand.Newsletter - Subscribe

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21:44

294 - Should you offer discounts to get people onto...

Make it British Podcast ·

2024/04/11

One of the questions that came up on one of our recent British Brand Accelerator group coaching calls was so good, I thought I'd bring it to you on the podcast this week.The question was about whether a small business that makes in the UK should be offering a discount when someone opts in to their newsletter, and whether this strategy works.It opened a whole discussion amongst the group about the pros and cons of discounting and other ideas for getting potential customers to sign up to your

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44:01

293 - Save English Fine Cottons

Make it British Podcast ·

2024/04/04

This week I’m bringing some very sad news - that the UK’s only cotton spinning mill, English Fine Cottons, which brought cotton spinning back to Greater Manchester in 2018, has very sadly gone into administration.In case you don’t know about the history of English Fine Cottons, it was set up by the technical textile spinners Culimeta-Saveguard, whoinvested £4.8m of its own money, £2m of which was a loan from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, to regenerate a former Victorian cotton mill and

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31:34

292 – Reviving the UK Button Making Industry with...

Make it British Podcast ·

2024/03/28

Today's guests are Andrea and David Courtney from Courtney & Co buttonmakersBack in 2012 I was contacted by someone who was trying to save the UK’s last remaining horn button maker - Grove & Sons. He was looking for investors to buy up the machinery and pattern books from the business so that the art of natural button making in the UK was not lost.Well it turns out that the investor that this guy eventually found was someone called David Courtney, who saw an ad to buy the machinery and

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46:04

291 - Micro Factories & Supply on Demand: UK...

Make it British Podcast ·

2024/03/22

This episode celebrates 15 years since I registered the domain makeitbritish.co.uk and busts some of the myths about UK manufacturing.You'll find out:Why I started Make it British and why I'm such a firm believer in UK manufacturing.The current UK manufacturing landscape.How the UK fashion and textile industry is made up of 1,000s of micro factories.How many garment factories there really are in the UK.The benefits of making in the UK.And why supply on demand is best done locally.To see the video

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36:03

290 – From the archive: Why UK Manufacturing is More...

Make it British Podcast ·

2024/03/15

Christopher Nieper OBE is the managing director of David Nieper, a womenswear business in Alfreton in Derbyshire.The firm was set up by Christopher's parents sixty years ago and is now one of the most vertical textile operations in the UK. Christopher recently invested in state-of-the-art digital printing equipment so that the factory can print it's own fabric onsite. David Nieper already prints all their own catalogues and produce their own knitwear in house, alongside the garment production.In

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30:45

289 - Creating Adaptive Clothing with Caron McLuckie...

Make it British Podcast ·

2024/03/08

In this episode of the Make it British podcast, Karen McCluckie, the director of Bealies Adaptive Wear, shares her inspiring journey of creating adaptive clothing for wheelchair users and disabled individuals. Motivated by her son's disability and the lack of suitable clothing options in the market, Karen embarked on a mission to design stylish and functional joggers tailored to the needs of wheelchair users. From the initial idea to overcoming challenges and securing funding, Karen discusses the

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15:16

288 - Why You Should Visit Your Factory

Make it British Podcast ·

2024/03/01

This week I’ve been in the Midlands visiting factories, which is always one of my favourite things to do.I’d planned to take my podcast mic with me and get an episode to you today with an interview with one of the manufacturers, but sadly I was in such a rush when I set off early Sunday morning that I left my mic behind!So on today’s episode instead I'm discussing one of the amazing factories I went to see, and also sharing a recording from the archives - which is to encourage you to get out there

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313 results

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