Make UK

In this episode of Making News, Make UK’s Peter Swift, Head of Communications, is joined by Celia Charlwood, Head of Government Affairs, and Fhaheen Khan, Senior Economist, to discuss the first few months of the new Government and what its plans could mean for manufacturers.

They look at the Government’s ambition to reindustrialise Britain, what manufacturers need to see to turn that ambition into growth, and the priorities facing businesses ahead of the Autumn Budget.

They cover:

• The early signals from the new Government for manufacturing
• What reindustrialisation needs to mean in practice
• The Government’s Industrial Strategy and key ministerial appointments
• The impact of high energy and employment costs on manufacturers
• Why delivery will be critical to achieving growth across the UK
• Make UK’s priorities ahead of the Autumn Budget
• The case for reviewing employer National Insurance costs
• What falling recruitment intentions mean for the sector
• How greater devolution could support local skills, infrastructure and investment
• The risk of manufacturers facing different levels of support across the country
• How Make UK is working with combined authorities and regional leaders

With manufacturers facing continued pressure from the cost of doing business, the discussion looks at what Government can do in the short term to give firms more room to invest, recruit and grow, while delivering its longer-term ambitions for UK industry.

Who is Make UK?

Make UK champions and celebrates British manufacturing and manufacturers. Together, we build a platform for the evolution of UK manufacturing.

For more information please head over to:

https://www.makeuk.org/

Get connected:

LinkedIn – Make UK

X – @MakeUK_

TikTok – @makeuk_

Instagram – @make_uk_

Facebook – Make UK, The Manufacturers’ Organisation

New trade union access rights are expected to take effect from 30 October 2026, subject to Parliamentary approval. They will change how trade unions can communicate with workers through physical and digital access.

In this episode of Making News, Make UK's Jamie Cater (Senior Policy Manager), Jonathan Young (Senior Legal Advisor) and Jenny Rimell (Head of HR Consultancy and Training) discuss what the changes could mean for employers and how businesses can prepare.

*They cover:*

• How physical and digital access could work

• What happens when an access request arrives

• The proposed 15-working-day response period

• Who should receive, manage, and negotiate a request

• What employers should consider before allowing site access

• Why managers, shift leaders and reception teams need to understand their role

• How the rights could affect businesses that already recognise a union

• The importance of policy, process, and competence

• How employee communication and workforce voice could affect union activity

The discussion is relevant to employers with established trade union relationships, as well as businesses with little or no experience of working with unions.

*Chapters:*

00:00 Introduction

01:06 Trade union changes taking effect from October 2026

02:26 What the new right of access means

04:26 Physical and digital access

05:54 Can an employer refuse access?

07:58 What businesses should do now

09:33 Which businesses are covered

10:59 Preparing a business with no union relationship

13:48 Where businesses may need support

16:09 What changes for businesses that already recognise a union

20:33 Conversations with recognised unions

22:28 Receiving and responding to an access request

24:54 Policies, processes and training

28:39 What employers need to know about the code of practice

31:48 Employee engagement and manager capability

35:24 Why these rights are different

36:36 What employers should prioritise

38:10 How Make UK can support employers

39:28 Closing

Find out how Make UK can help your business prepare, including consultancy support, manager training, and help responding to an access request: https://www.makeuk.org/services/hr-and-legal/collective-employee-relations

*Who Is Make UK?*

Make UK champions and celebrates British manufacturing and manufacturers. Together, we build a platform for the evolution of UK manufacturing.

*For more information please head over to ↗️https://www.makeuk.org/*

*Get connected:*

Twitter - https://twitter.com/MakeUk_

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@makeuk_

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/make_uk_/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/makeuk

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MakeUKTheManufacturersOrganisation/

What do inheritance tax changes mean for family-owned manufacturers? In this episode of Making News, Make UK and Bishop Fleming explore succession planning, investment and the future of UK manufacturing.

Who Are Make UK?

Make UK champions and celebrates British manufacturing and manufacturers. Together, we build a platform for the evolution of UK manufacturing.

For more information please head over to -- https://www.makeuk.org/

Get connected:

Twitter - https://twitter.com/MakeUk_

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@makeuk_

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/make_uk_/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/makeuk

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MakeUKTheManufacturersOrganisation/

The UK-India trade deal is here, but what does it mean for manufacturers?

Emma Griffiths is joined by Make UK's Maxwell Green and BIST's Rachel Spiegelhalter and Olivia Herford to discuss where free trade agreements are creating new opportunities and how businesses can make the most of them.

Who Are Make UK?

Make UK champions and celebrates British manufacturing and manufacturers. Together, we build a platform for the evolution of UK manufacturing.

For more information please head over to -- https://www.makeuk.org/

Get connected:

Twitter - https://twitter.com/MakeUk_

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@makeuk_

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/make_uk_/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/makeuk

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MakeUKTheManufacturersOrganisation/

New analysis has shown that a substantial 25% annual growth rate will be needed for the aluminium scrap sector to meet the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy demand. Make UK Senior Economist Fhaheen Khan hosts a discussion with Louise Young, Head of External Affairs and Lucy Adams, Policy Advisor about the opportunity this presents.

Who Are Make UK?

Make UK champions and celebrates British manufacturing and manufacturers. Together, we build a platform for the evolution of UK manufacturing. For more information please head over to -- https://www.makeuk.org/

One year on from the launch of the Government's Industrial Strategy in June 2025, manufacturers are taking stock of whether it is delivering the certainty, competitiveness and long-term policy stability needed to support investment and growth. Make UK CEO Stephen Phipson and Director of Policy & Public Affairs Verity Davidge are joined by Greg Clark, former Secretary of State for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and Cara Haffey, UK Leader of Industrials and Services, PwC UK to discuss the current status. Who Are Make UK?Make UK champions and celebrates British manufacturing and manufacturers. Together, we build a platform for the evolution of UK manufacturing. For more information, please head over to -- https://www.makeuk.org/

In the latest episode of the Root Cause Analysis podcast, Chris Newson is joined by Louise O’Kane, from Westfield Health.

In this episode, Louise talks about building a business case for workplace wellbeing and reveals that for every £1 spent on wellbeing organisations get £5 back. If you’re reviewing your approach to wellbeing, don’t miss it.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share if you find this episode helpful!

Sign up for our newsletter to get early access to episodes and exclusive content - https://landing.makeuk.org/EHSPodcastSignUp/ehspodcastsignuppage.html

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Who is Make UK?

Make UK champions and celebrates British manufacturing and manufacturers. Together, we build a platform for the evolution of UK manufacturing.

For more information, please head over to:

The Manufacturers' Organisation

Get connected:

LinkedIn – Make UK

X – @MakeUK_

TikTok – @makeuk_

Instagram – @make_uk_

Facebook – Make UK, The Manufacturers’ Organisation

Formerly known as EEF, Make UK champions engineering & manufacturing in the UK, supporting businesses around the country. Learn more about what we do.

Defence spending is rising up the political agenda, but what does it mean for UK manufacturing, defence businesses and the economy?

In this episode of Making News, Make UK experts discuss the UK’s defence ambitions, the long-awaited Defence Investment Plan, the role of SMEs in the defence supply chain, and the opportunities and challenges facing manufacturers as Europe increases defence spending.

Hosted by: 
Mark Swift, Director of Public Affairs, Make UK

With expert insights from:

• Chris Hague, Senior Policy Advisor, Make UK Defence
• Andrew Kinniburgh, Director General, Make UK Defence

The discussion explores the UK’s defence spending commitments, the implications of delays to the Defence Investment Plan, opportunities for SMEs, defence procurement reform, European collaboration, investment and financing options, and the growing importance of emerging technologies such as drones and autonomous systems.

The conversation also examines what government action is needed to unlock investment, strengthen supply chains and ensure the UK defence sector can support national security while driving economic growth and innovation.

Chapters: 
00:00 – 01:39: Introduction and the State of UK Defence Spending 
01:40 – 05:06: Funding Commitments and the Defence Budget Challenge 
05:07 – 08:19: The Defence Investment Plan and Industry Confidence 
08:20 – 12:50: SMEs, Procurement and Supply Chain Opportunities 
12:51 – 17:00: European Defence Cooperation and Export Opportunities 
17:01 – 20:39: Financing Defence and the Case for Defence Bonds 
20:40 – 25:58: Drones, Innovation and Lessons from Ukraine 
25:59 – End: The Future of UK Defence Manufacturing

Who Are Make UK?

Make UK champions British manufacturing and manufacturers. Together, we build a platform for the evolution of UK manufacturing.

For more information please head over to – https://www.makeuk.org/

Get connected: 
Twitter- https://x.com/MakeUK_ 
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/makeuk

Apprenticeships are changing and in this episode of Making News, we break down what the latest changes mean in practice.

From the new apprenticeship clearing system to greater flexibility and faster updates to training, this discussion looks at how the changes could make it easier for people to get onto an apprenticeship, stay on track, and build skills that employers actually need.

In the discussion, one of our current apprentices is joined by Make UK experts to explore what’s really changing, what it means for learners and employers, and how apprenticeships are evolving to support modern manufacturing careers.

For more insight and support on apprenticeships and skills, visit https://www.makeuk.org/apprenticeship

Make UK’s Head of Policy, Verity Davidge, is joined by Senior Policy Manager Patrick Matthewson and Inspired Energy’s Daniel Turvey to explore practical steps manufacturers can take to mitigate the impact of the ongoing energy crisis.

Who Are Make UK?

Make UK champions and celebrates British manufacturing and manufacturers. Together, we build a platform for the evolution of UK manufacturing.

For more information please head over to -

https://www.makeuk.org/