Manufacturers using match-making tool to buy British
22 December 2020
Manufacturers that normally source components from abroad are finding UK-based alternative suppliers through Reshoring UK, a new collaborative online marketplace.
Reshoring UK is an interactive match-making tool that allows companies to search for a UK-based company by manufacturing category, region, industry sector, trade association or keyword search. Users can then post enquiries to companies they find on the platform to request further information.
The platform was initiated by the Gauge and Toolmakers Association (GTMA), and was designed for OEMs, tier one suppliers and SMEs to locate manufacturing capacity which may be conveniently sited ‘down the road’.
A growing number of companies have found UK suppliers through the platform to date. Julia Moore, Chief Executive of GTMA, explained:
“Matching the needs of businesses that are reshoring, or even to shine a light on the ‘lost skills’ the engineering marketplace can provide, demonstrates where the Reshoring website excels. It can make the compiling of an end-to-end supply chain much more efficient, minimising the effort required to find businesses that are capable and competent enough to provide the support required.”
The concept of relocating supply to the UK has grown rapidly since the outbreak of COVID-19, with experts warning that manufacturers need to re-think their approach to procurement to reduce the risk of further disruptions in future.
Earlier in 2020, a similar initiative, UK Manufacturing Unite, was launched by a group of UK companies with the aim of helping manufacturers to source local supply and solve common problems.