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'.
- Update frequency
- every 6 days
- Average duration
- 27 minutes
- Episodes
- 306
- Years Active
- 2018 - 2025
049 – Bianca Elgar – How to Choose the Right Manufacturer
Bianca Elgar is a print designer, and founder and creative director of the Bianca Elgar brand.
I first met Bianca not long after I founded Make it British, when she came to me looking with help to dev…
048 – Exciting Times Ahead!
Did you know that 2019 marks 200 years since the landmark Factories Act of 1819? Otherwise known as the Cotton Mills Act, the act was passed to regulate work practices in textile factories.
It stated …
047 – Martin Lowe, Roy Lowe & Sons – Why Innovation & Quality Matter
Martin Lowe describes himself as 'The Bald Headed Sock Seller' - but he's much more than that.
His family business - Roy Lowe & Sons, which he runs with his brother Tim - produces socks for some of th…
046 – How to Make the Most of Events
What's the best way of maximising your attendance at an event?
As an event organiser I get lots of questions from exhibitors (and visitors) that are unsure of how to make the most of attending an even…
045 – Finella Devitt, Firehorse – Developing a Product is a Marathon not a Sprint
With a background brand management and a family history in manufacturing, Finella Devitt is the founder of luxury accessory brand Firehorse.
Working with talented designers, Devitt turns their artwor…
044 – What To Do When Manufacturing Goes Wrong
Unfortunately, mistakes can, and do, happen in manufacturing, but there are ways to avoid it.
In this episode we look at:
- the main reasons that manufacturing a product usually goes wrong
- how to resolve …
043 – Simon Middleton, Brand Advisor – How to Build a British-made Brand
What makes a great British brand?
In this episode I chat to brand guru Simon Middleton about what makes an average brand stand out from an extraordinary one.
Simon is my go-to authority on anything to …
041 – Paul Smithers, Halcyon Blue – The Challenges of Making Swimwear in the UK
Why is swimwear so difficult to make when the products look so simple?
This is one of the questions that I put to guest Paul Smithers from Halcyon Blue, a swimwear manufacturer based in Hampshire, UK.
…
040 – How I set up a trade show for UK-made brands and manufacturers
In 2014 I had the idea to set up a trade show for UK manufacturers.
This episode tells the story of why the event came about - and how it nearly went very horribly wrong!
For the first time, I share t…
039 – Genevieve Sweeney, Knitwear Designer – Building a Premium British Knitwear Brand
In this episode of the Make it British podcast I discuss a love of knitwear, in particular the lost art of hand-intarsia, with Genevieve Sweeney.
Genevieve trained as a knitwear designer, and after wo…
038 – Why you should visit a factory
I think visiting a factory is essential for anyone that is developing a new product
One of the benefits of making in the UK is that factory visiting is far easier than if you are making your products …
037 – Debbie Humphreys, Redhound for Dogs – Finding a Winning Business Formula
Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best
Debbie Humphreys stumbled across her business idea when she took ownership of a whippet called Bruno and had trouble finding things to keep him warm.
With a ba…
036 – Can I label my product as made in the UK?
What are the rules surrounding whether you can label a product as made in the UK?
"Can I label my product as made in the UK?' is one of the questions that I get asked the most.
The answer to this quest…
035 – Katherine Hooker – Creating the Perfect Coat
Katherine Hooker started her business with one garment and has been perfecting it ever since
In this episode designer Katherine Hooker tells the story of how she took a garment from her wardrobe that …
034 – Should I Use Made in Britain or Made in UK?
When it comes to labelling your products what is the best term to use? Made in Britain, made in the UK, or something else?
In this episode I explore the different 'Made in..' labels that brands use to…
033 – Andy Ogden, English Fine Cottons – Made in Britain Starts Here
Cotton spinning has returned to the UK!
Greater Manchester was once known as cottonopolis because it was the home to the world's cotton yarn and fabric production during the industrial revolution.
At t…
032 – Ethical Audit Committee Report on Sustainability in the UK Fashion Industry
This week the Government released the Ethical Audit Committee's report into sustainability of the UK fashion industry.
The report raised the issue of the unethical practices of some manufacturers in L…
031 – Mick Cheema, Basic Premier – Life as an Ethical Clothing Manufacturer in Leicester
What's it really like being a clothing manufacturer in Leicester?
In this episode we hear from Mick Cheema, who runs garment factory Basic Premier in Leicester.
Mick set up Basic Premier in 2012, to ma…
030 – My favourite British-made Footwear Brands
You may have heard of English shoemakers such as Church's, Cheaneys and Tricker's, but there are quite a few other footwear brands that manufacture in the UK too.
In this episode I pick my ten favouri…
029 – Adam Mansell, UKFT – Guiding the Textile Industry Through Brexit
In this episode I catch up with Adam Mansell, CEO of the UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT)
UKFT is a membership network for fashion and textile companies and Adam is a keen supporter of UK man…