74% of businesses more likely to buy British post-pandemic
24 August 2020
A new poll has revealed that COVID-19 is reshaping the buying behaviour of British businesses, with four in ten believing the pandemic will result in a brighter future for British manufacturing.
The survey of 1,000 purchasing and procurement decision makers, commissioned by the Made in Britain initiative, found that businesses are now paying even closer attention to the impact of their purchasing decisions on the British economy and the environment.
Nearly three quarters (74 per cent) said they were more likely to buy British products to boost the economy post-pandemic, compared to 66 per cent of consumers surveyed in a parallel poll.
Concern for the environment was also a key motivator, with 77 per cent of businesses believing that buying British could help to tackle climate change - a seven per cent increase on 2019.
The vast majority (86 per cent) said they were happy to pay a premium for British-made goods, which is an increase of five per cent on last year. Nearly two thirds (64 per cent) were willing to buy British “whatever the cost”.
Despite this, 38 per cent of respondents admitted to not being able to tell if a product was made in Britain.
John Pearce, CEO of Made in Britain, which provides members with a mark certifying their product’s country of origin, said:
“Encouragingly our research shows that the business community is backing British manufacturing to the hilt with support for the UK economy significantly impacting purchasing decisions. Environmental concerns have also risen further up the corporate agenda as climate change and waste reduction become ever more critical.
“It is more important than ever that manufacturers maximise the strong appetite for products made on British soil by making it as easy as possible for both consumers and businesses to buy British.”