63% of firms more likely to buy British post-pandemic

The research, commissioned by the Made in Britain certification mark and reported by The Manufacturer, found that 87 per cent of buyers typically consider where a product is made before purchasing. This is a 7 per cent increase on the same survey from 2020.

Over half (53 per cent) are more likely to buy a product when seeing a British flag on packaging or marketing materials, and the vast majority (82 per cent) said they would pay more for British-made goods - a sentiment also shared by foreign buyers.

Despite a marked decrease on last year’s figures, nearly two thirds of respondents still said they were more likely to buy British products once the pandemic is over, citing the desire to support British jobs as well as the capitalise on the quality, environmental and ethical standards of British manufacturers.

To drive an increase in buying domestic goods, around half of respondents (51 per cent) agreed that their company should consider implementing a ‘buy British’ procurement policy in future.

John Pearce, CEO of Made in Britain, said:

“It’s clear that buying British products is important to British businesses and their employees, but those making purchasing decisions still don’t feel empowered to make informed choices. Confusion over provenance is still a real issue. For manufacturers needing a boost after such times, and to maintain loyalty, showing they are committed to making their goods here in Britain makes great business sense.”