Economics journalist Steve Duke travels across Britain to meet the people still making products in factories and workshops. Each episode explores the stories behind iconic British-made goods through interviews with the craftspeople and makers behind them. The series mixes economic insight with warm, human storytelling about manufacturing and craftsmanship.
Episodes
57. The Bicycle Saddle
When Selle Royal, the world’s biggest producer of bicycle saddles, took over Brooks’ historic Smethwick factory, they imposed one golden rule – no robots. Ever.For well over 100 years, Brooks has been producing its iconic B17 saddle by hand, and Selle Royal were smart enough to recognise that some manufacturing processes just work.On today’s The Factory Next Door, we head to Smethwick to meet the
56. The Rivet Stool
It’s truly one of our greatest materials. We make shoes from it; clothes, books, bags and furniture. Leather is extraordinary. Over the millennia, we’ve become adept at using it. Today, in a West London workshop, a group of craftspeople continue to experiment with leather – learning how to manipulate it to create floors, stairs, tables, and freestanding stools. On today’s The Factory Next Door, we
55. The Hand-Sewn Kilt
For 500 years highland dress has been synonymous with Scotland, but these days there are more kilt-makers in India than within its home country.On today’s The Factory Next Door we head to a workshop just off Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, where efforts are being made to preserve the art of traditional kilt-making.Number 55 on our list of the greatest things we manufacture here is The Hand-Sewn Kilt.As we
54. The Helter Skelter
You never quite know what you’re going to find when you visit one of our manufacturers. On today’s episode of The Factory Next Door, we head to Avonmouth to visit a bespoke storage maker – but what we discover is far from expected. We hear stories of serious fraud, do our daily stretches, go welding with Daft Punk, and see the frame of a 15-meter-high slide being lovingly bent into shape
53. The Ceremonial Uniform
When you need someone to escort the King’s crown to Parliament for the state opening, you call on his Majesty’s Gentleman at Arms – with their distinctive red and gold jackets.And when you need someone to make a new uniform for this historic corps, you call Jules Walker and her team at Gieves and Hawkes.Number 53 on our list of the greatest things we make here is The Ceremonial Uniform.Jules is he
52. The Propelling Pencil
The epicentre of the global pen industry used to reside in Birmingham. Then the plastic biro arrived and everything changed.But in the city’s jewellery quarter, a team of skilled silversmiths are ensuring the history of Birmingham’s pen industry continues to be written.Number 52 on our list of the greatest things we make here is the propelling pencil by YARD-O-LED.Owner Giles English shows us arou
51. The Remembrance Wreath
Inspired by a poem about the horrors of war, the red poppy is worn by millions of people every year to commemorate those who have died in conflict.And every November, on Remembrance Sunday, poppy wreaths of varying sizes are placed beside graves and war memorials. Each one is made by a small team in Richmond, Southwest London.Number 51 on our list of the greatest things we make here is The Remembr
Most replayed moments. The greatest business strategy
We’ve hit number 50 on our list of the greatest things we make here, so I thought it would be nice to share some of my favourite moments, as well as your most replayed clips. Since we started The Factory Next Door, we’ve spent hours and hours hanging out with business owners, chatting to them on factory floors and in their offices. They come from different walks of life, creating a wide
Most replayed moments. Why I bought a British factory
We’ve hit number 50 on our list of the greatest things we make here, so I thought it would be nice to share some of my favourite moments, as well as your most replayed clips. Our manufacturers are undoubtedly facing strong headwinds. Many business owners tell me it’s tougher now than it’s been for decades. Despite this, on our travels around the country, we’ve met a few extraordinary peo
Most replayed moments. Stories from our makers that made me cry
We’ve hit number 50 on our list of the greatest things we make here, so I thought it would be nice to look back at some of my favourite moments from the show, as well as your most replayed clips. Over the coming weeks, I’ll share a few compilations. We’ll start with moments that hit me hard. The Factory Next Door might be about manufacturing, but it’s also a love letter to people ma
50. The Knitted Polo Shirt
When you’ve been learning your craft for almost two and a half centuries, you can confidently call yourself ‘the world’s finest’. John Smedley have been making their knitwear in Derbyshire since 1784.Number 50 on our list of the greatest things we make here is The Knitted Polo Shirt.On this week’s The Factory Next Door we head to Matlock to visit John Smedley’s historic Lea Mills.Managing Director
49. The Folding Bicycle
Spend a day in any major city from Seoul to San Francisco and you’ll spot them weaving through the traffic – a bicycle with distinctive small wheels and arched top tube.Brompton’s folding bike is an example of a great British design that’s loved around the world. More than 1.2m have now been sold.Number 49 on our list of the greatest things we make here is The Folding Bicycle.On this week’s The Fa
Bonus Ep. Northampton. How to grow our shoe industry
Over the past 20 years, the amount we spend on shoes in the UK has tripled. It now stands at £14bn.During the same period, our domestic footwear industry has dramatically shrunk. The vast majority of shoes we buy are now made overseas.One town remains synonymous with shoemaking. Northampton. And it’s here that you can still find craftspeople making some of the finest shoes in the world. Brands lik
48. The Wedding Tent
Pitching a 24-metre-long tent is one thing. Manufacturing one requires a whole different set of skills, including cloth cutting, sewing, woodwork and a good understanding of mathematics.On this week’s The Factory Next Door we head to North Yorkshire to meet a team striving to keep alive the ancient art of tent making.Number 48 on our list of the greatest things we make here is The Wedding Tent by
47. The Surgical Clamp
When the world’s best surgeons spread a rib cage or clamp a blood vessel, they rely on instruments hammered and filed by skilled hands in a Sheffield workshop. On this week’s The Factory Next Door we head to Platts & Nisbett, manufacturers of surgical instruments for almost half-a-century. Number 47 on our list of the greatest things we make here is The Surgical Clamp. Alys
46. The Luxury Lingerie
Smalls are a big market. Annual underwear sales in the UK top £400m. Much of it used to be made domestically (with a thriving cluster in south Wales), but, in the past 15 years, that industry has dramatically shrunk. Today, just a few artisan lingerie companies survive.On this week’s The Factory Next Door, we head to New Tredegar in South Wales to meet Naomi Edmondson, the founder of lingerie comp
45. The Mechanical Watch
What does it take to make a product so special customers will wait years to get their hands on one? In the world of horology, Rebecca and Craig Struthers have built themselves an enviable reputation using traditional tools and methods to craft extraordinary timepieces. Their watches are so popular the waiting time for one is currently seven years (they are working to bring that down!) Nu
44. The Optical Glasses
Every company has a lifespan. Some have two.Over the course of a century, glasses-maker Curry & Paxton went from pioneering new optical instruments, to becoming a key supplier to the NHS, to appearing in iconic movies. Then, in 1987, they vanished.On this week’s The Factory Next Door, we visit the workshop where they are breathing new life into this heritage British brand.Number 44 on our list
43. The Premium Preserve
The market for jams and preserves might seem… well, jam-packed, but get your recipe right and you’ll find space to grow.Number 43 on our list of the greatest products we make here is The Premium Preserve.On this week’s The Factory Next Door we visit Bristol to meet Nicola Elliott, founder of award-winning jam maker Single Variety Co.Nicola gives us a tour of her expanding factory as she explains w
42. The Mountain Shirt
There are somethings you can’t know about a company until you’ve bought it and had a riffle through the filing cabinets. In the case of clothing maker Buffalo Systems, it was numerous letters of appreciation from special forces, the military, and mountain rescue teams. Number 42 on our list of the greatest products we make here is The Mountain Shirt by Buffalo.Broadcaster and adventurer Ben F
41. The China Mug
There’s plenty of reasons to buy a British manufacturer right now. On this week’s episode, artist Susan Rose reveals why she’s just done that – acquiring a pottery in Stoke-on-Trent. We take a tour to learn about getting the thickness of mugs just right, the art of the kiln-stack, and why the random-shake of a cup in water is not always what it seems. We also hear about overcoming dyslex
40. The Bed Linen
When the ultra-wealthy want a new set of bespoke bedding for their mansion or superyacht, they email a mill that sits just outside Blackburn, Lancashire. Peter Reed – whose customers include the Royal Household – has been producing handcrafted bedding for more than 160 years. Number 40 on our list of the greatest products we make here is The Bed Linen. Managing Director Sean Clayton
39. The Musical Saw
The global market for saw blades might be worth $16bn a year, but there’s only one saw factory left in the UK. In today’s show we visit Sheffield’s Thomas Flinn & Co to learn how they’ve been cutting teeth for the past 100 years. Number 39 on our list of the greatest products we make here is The Musical Saw. Director Katie Ellis’ family have owned the company for generations. Sh
38. The Rocket Engine
Earlier this year, Blue Ghost became the first commercial lunar lander to touch down on the moon. Crucial to that mission’s success was its engine – a rocket designed and built in the Buckinghamshire countryside. Number 38 on our list of the greatest items we make in Britain is The Rocket Engine. At a former military base, Dr Ian Coxhill, chief engineer at Nammo UK, shows us around
37. The Oak-Framed Home
We almost lost the art of building homes from oak in Britain. Thankfully, someone in Herefordshire wasn’t going to let that happen. In today’s show we celebrate a dad who revived the medieval craft and built a business. Number 37 on our list of the greatest items we make here is The Oak-Framed Home. Merry Albright is creative director of Border Oak, and daughter of the founder, John
36. The Resoleable Sneakers
The American sneaker market is worth $25bn. It is the biggest in the world – and growing. But it’s a crowded market. You need a stellar USP to stand out. Sheffield-based trainer-maker Goral has one – and it’s finding success selling to US sneakerheads. Number 36 on our list of the greatest items we make here is The Resoleable Sneaker. On this week’s episode of The Factory Next Door,
35. The Dining Chair
Design a timeless classic and the ripples from that one idea can be felt across industries for decades.Take Ercol’s Windsor Dining Chair, number 35 on our list of the greatest items we make here.It may be more than 70 years old, but its impact and influence remains significant. Today it’s even helping revive the British wood industry decades after being ravaged by Dutch Elm Disease.On this week’s
34. The Glass Lampshade
You must be delicate shaping it. You must be aggressive smoothing it. Glass might be full of contradictions, but it’s consistent in its beauty. On this week’s The Factory Next Door, we head to Rothschild & Bickers’ glassblowing studio in Hertford to learn what it takes to turn molten silica into art for the walls and the ceiling. Number 34 on our list of the greatest products we make
33. The Somerset Cider
When you’re in the business of making cider, you need to be able to predict the future.Growing a single apple tree for cider-making takes years. Plant an orchard, and you’re betting on customers’ taste buds decades ahead of time.On this week’s The Factory Next Door we head to the village of Sandford by the Mendip Hills to visit Thatchers Cider.Number 33 on our list of the greatest products we make
32. The Country Brogues
These are tough times for Britain’s celebrated shoemakers – sales to Europe have been squeezed since 2019, tax-free shopping for overseas tourists has been scrapped, and recent geopolitical events have dented consumer confidence. To survive, it helps if your brand has a long history and a cult following. Thankfully for Tricker’s they have both. On this week’s The Factory Next Door, we head to Nort
Bonus Ep. Dumfries House. Inside the King's House of Makers
Thirty miles south of Glasgow, in the grounds of a country house, thousands of students visit every year to learn heritage skills such as stone masonry and stained glass making. Dumfries House is home to The King’s Foundation, an educational charity set up by King Charles III. For this special episode of The Factory Next Door, we take a tour of Dumfries House with the Foundation’s Head of Educatio
31. The Single Malt
The world loves Scotch whisky. Forty-four bottles are exported every single second – that’s 1.4bn a year. On this week’s The Factory Next Door, we head to the remote Ardnamurchan peninsula in the Scottish Highlands to learn what it takes to build a distillery. Number 31 on our list of the greatest products we make in Britain is The Single Malt. Alex Bruce, Managing Director of the Ardnamurchan Dis
30. The Kitchen Scissors
Sheffield is about to embark on a brand refresh which celebrates the city’s role in the history of cultural phenomena such as football, electronic music, and cask beer. But we’re heading there to champion something omitted from the marketing rebrand – the city’s skilled steel workers. On this week’s The Factory Next Door, we’re visiting the workshop of Ernest Wright, where they’ve been hand-making
29. The Three-Piece Suit
Being a tailor is a profession. It has been since 1563 when laws were passed that stated you could only trade as a tailor if you had served your term learning the craft. Today, there are around 13,000 tailors across the UK, and while Savile Row may be synonymous with the craft, most tailors are working their magic in our satellite cities and market towns. On this week’s The Factory Next Door, we h
28. The Prospector Pan
Across Europe, we’ve been cooking with iron pans since the 1600s (the Chinese were using them 1,000 years before that), but they fell out of favour after the invention of ‘non-stick’ chemicals. Now, following studies suggesting some of those chemicals may be bad for our health, iron pans are returning to our stoves. The UK market is currently estimated to be growing at almost 10% year-on-year. On
27. The Doorman's Umbrella
Around 1.5 million umbrellas are reportedly made in the UK every year. We need them. The UK gets around 171 days of rain every year (though that’s across the entire country, thankfully not in one spot!) On this week’s The Factory Next Door we head to East London to visit one of our last remaining umbrella makers. Number 27 on our list of the greatest things we make in Britain is The Doorman’s Umb
26. The Sparkling Wine
Making sparkling wine is an old craft that’s found a new home. The French (and other European nations) may have been producing it for 300 years, but since the start of the 21st century, the UK has become an increasingly significant player. On this week’s The Factory Next Door we head to Kent to meet the team making some of our most internationally celebrated wines. Number 26 on our list of the gre
25. The Coachbuilt Car
Cars are made by robots – often articulated robots that resemble giant human arms… except, there’s a tiny percentage of cars that are still made using real human arms. On this week’s The Factory Next Door we head to the Malvern Hills to meet the team still using their hands to craft cars.Number 25 on our list of the greatest things we make in Britain is The Coachbuilt Car by the Morgan Car Company
24. The Selvedge Jeans
More than three billion pairs of denim jeans are made every year. But not all jeans are made the same. Just 10% are produced using selvedge denim - a denim that takes more time to weave and is significantly longer lasting. The UK may account for only a tiny percentage of global jean production, but we have some of the finest makers. Number 24 on our list of the greatest things we make in Britain i
23. The Inflatable Lifeboat
Since 1824, if you’ve got into difficulties on the British coastline, volunteers from the RNLI will race to your aid. They’ll arrive in a distinctive bright orange boat. A boat built in Britain. Number 23 on our list of the greatest things we make in Britain is The Inflatable Lifeboat. In this week’s episode of The Factory Next Door, we head to Cowes on the Isle of Wight to meet Glyn Ellis, Busine
22. The Space Satellite
In a leafy science park in Surrey, there’s a team of engineers making something that’s not intended for our world – it’s designed to live in space. Number 22 on our list of the greatest things we make in Britain is The Space Satellite. In this week’s episode of The Factory Next Door, we head to Surrey Satellite Technologies to meet with systems engineer Lily Forward and head of marketing Andrew Gr
21. The Cotton Shirt
A thread runs across the shoulders of King Charles, Stormzy, and David Gandy, and leads to the city of Gloucester. There, in a beautiful 18th century house, you can find Emma Willis and her skilled team making shirts for royalty, celebrities and anyone wishing to look sharp. Number 21 on our list of the greatest products we make in Britain is The Cotton Shirt. In this week’s episode of The Factory
Bonus Ep. Evan Davis
For this special episode of the show, we sit down for a chat with journalist and broadcaster Evan Davis. Before becoming presenter of Radio 4’s PM programme, Evan was the BBC’s Economics Editor. In 2011, he presented a documentary series, and wrote a book, called Made in Britain. Since 2006, Evan’s presented the business show The Bottom Line. He’s also the presenter of BBC Two’s Dragons’ Den. We s
20. The Horse Saddle
The world’s biggest exporter of horse saddles and harnesses? China. Today it accounts for almost half the entire global market. But British-made saddles are still celebrated for their craftsmanship, and they are still in demand - particularly from riders in places such as America and Australia.Number 20 on our list of the greatest products we make in Britain is The Horse Saddle.In this week’s epis
19. The Teddy Bear
This year we’re on course to spend a billion-pounds on stuffed toys and dolls in the UK. The vast majority will arrive in shipping containers, but a small, select group of stuffed toys will be born on our island.Number 19 on our list of the greatest products we make is The Teddy Bear.In this week’s episode of The Factory Next Door we chat to Kerstin, managing director of Canterbury Bears to discus
18. The Linen Jacket
In East London, at a former Burberry factory, jackets and shirts are being manufactured with a unique twist – every element of them, from the buttons to the labels, the thread to the cloth, has been produced within the British Isles.In this week’s episode of The Factory Next Door, we meet husband-and-wife team Paul and Debbie, co-founders of clothing brand MISSING. They explain why they set out to
17. The Albert Slipper
There are 181 companies making footwear in the UK. In this week’s show we visit one of the oldest, Norfolk’s Bowhill & Elliott, to celebrate its Albert Slipper. These slippers, traditionally made from velvet and often featuring intricate embroidered motifs, are still crafted by hand in a workshop behind the company’s shop on Norwich’s high street. They've been based there since 1874. Marc, Bow
16. The Morris Bell
As the summer sun finally arrives, it’s time to celebrate an item we commonly hear in our villages and towns during the warmer months – the morris bell. Morris dancers wear dozens of these bells strapped to their legs, giving their routines a distinctive sound. On today’s show, we head to Birmingham Stopper – one of the last factories in Britain still manufacturing the bells (it also produces a ho
15. The Additive Watch
We celebrate a watch on today’s show – one made using 3D printing technologies (or additive manufacturing as the technique is referred to in the industry). Apiar are new-comers to the horology world, but their use of additive manufacturing, and focus on British-sourced parts, makes them particularly interesting. We travel to Ebbw Vale in South Wales to visit the factory making Apiar’s intricate wa
14. The Derby Boots
It’s time to add a piece of footwear to our list of great British-made products. This week we head to Northamptonshire, the traditional home of our shoe-making industry, to tour Joseph Cheaney & Sons’ factory. Our guide Martin celebrates The Derby Boot, shows us what makes a Goodyear welted shoe special, explains why clippers are more skilled than cutters, and reveals he wants to be buried in
13. The Velvet Jacket
For number 13 on our list we head to 13 Savile Row, W1. There we meet Ruby, founder and creative director of Banshee, to learn how she makes her exquisite bespoke velvet jackets.As we tour Banshee’s workshop, we discuss bespoke clothing for women, the joy of British fabrics, the importance of marrying business and creativity, and the unpredictability of imposter syndrome.We also appreciate Savile
12. The Fire Irons
Fire irons. We’ve been forging them for centuries – literally. Blacksmiths have been making them since, well, the Iron Age. They sit at number 12 on our list of the greatest products we make in Britain. In this episode of The Factory Next Door, we visit ironwork company Nigel Tyas to see how they blend old techniques with modern tools and handcraft fire irons, as well as wrought iron lighting and
11. The Carry-On Case
Number 11 on our list of the greatest products we make in Britain is The Carry-On Case – and this piece will force you to rethink what you know about the humble piece of paper. Luggage company Globe-Trotter, loved by royalty, celebrities, and plenty of lifelong fans, takes paper – adds a dose of magic – and creates a material that is extraordinarily durable and light. In this episode of The Factor
10. The Model Spitfire
We’ve reached number 10 on our list of the greatest products we make in Britain. And it’s a true icon. The Spitfire. In this episode of The Factory Next Door, we visit two factories both making their own versions of this legendary plane. In Margate, we pop into model maker Airfix to chat with researcher Luke about their 1:24 scale Spitfire replica. And in a hanger in Oxfordshire, we meet Paul who
9. The Botanical Illustration
Ever wondered why, in this digital age, scientific institutions still employ artists to paint flora and fauna? In this episode of The Factory Next Door, we head to Kew Gardens to meet Lucy Smith, one of the world’s leading botanical illustrators. Lucy shows us around Kew’s art workshop and explains why the botanical illustration remains as relevant today as it did during the voyages of Darwin or C
8. The Plaited Belt
Ever wondered what a bomb disposal expert does when it’s time to change career? Well, in the case of Alex Simpson, they return to the Midlands and open a leather factory.In this episode of The Factory Next Door, we tour Beorma’s factory and learn how its plaited leather belts are made. We chat to Managing Director Alex about the challenges of keeping alive Walsall’s historic leather industry, the
7. The Cornish Mug
Ever wondered what makes one stripy mug a design icon, and the other is, well just a stripy mug? In this episode, we travel to the home of Cornishware in Somerset to learn how its distinctive (and world famous) three striped mug is produced. We chat about the challenges of bringing production back from the Far East, ask whether imitation is flattery, and solve the puzzle of why it’s called Cornish
6. The Fisherman's Smock
Ever wondered what’s the perfect piece of utilitarian clothing? We think it might be the fisherman’s smock. Originally designed for seafarers, it was then adopted by artists, and is now popular on catwalks. In this week’s episode of The Factory Next Door we head to Yarmouth Oilskins on the Norfolk coast. It’s a company that knows how to make a fisherman’s smock - they’ve been doing it for more tha
5. The Cask Ale
Ever thought about how you can get a lifetime of free beer? Actually, let’s rephrase that question. Ever thought about launching your own brewery specialising in British cask ale? On this episode of The Factory Next Door we head to West Sussex to meet Liam, the owner of Aleworks Brewing Co. Sales of cask ales have been falling for years as drinkers switch to American or European-inspired lagers. L
4. The Custom Motorbike
Ever wondered who builds the best choppers this side of the Atlantic? Turns out they are lovingly crafted in an old tractor repair workshop in North Yorkshire. On this episode of The Factory Next Door we meet Vic and Lin, the couple behind the multi-award winning Destiny Cycles. We discuss the enduring appeal of choppers, the joy of reusing vintage parts, and finding love at a car boot sale. Also
3. The Princess's Bicycle
Ever wondered what it takes to make a bike that's loved by princesses, Mary Poppins, and Paddington Bear? We did, so we headed through the factory doors of one of Britain’s last remaining manufacturers of bicycles to find out.On this episode of The Factory Next Door we are in Stratford-Upon-Avon to chat with Adrian Williams, chairman of Pashley Bicycles. We discuss the beauty of brazing, sacrifici
2. The Day Backpack
Ever wondered what it takes to make your own backpack from scratch? We did, so we tracked down one of Britain’s most progressive apparel companies for a chat. It turns out it requires a lot of blood, sweat, and staples. On this episode of The Factory Next Door, we head to the Cornish cliffs to meet Mark, founder of The Level Collective, to discuss the importance of making products that last, being
1. The Museum Gift
Ever wondered who designs the distinctive fabrics found on the London Underground? So did we, and it turns out the designers don’t just create iconic seat patterns known to millions of commuters, they make the most exquisite gifts you’ll find in the gift shops of our most famous art galleries and museums. In this episode of The Factory Next Door, we go through the doors of celebrated design studio
The Trailer
What’s on your list of the greatest products made in Britain? Join journalist Steve Duke as he criss-crosses the island to meet our makers in their factories and workshops.Whilst compiling our list, we hear stories of people pursuing perfection, tales of difficult times, and reasons for optimism.Winner of the Best Business Show at the Independent Podcast Awards 2024.Join the community on Instagram
