Make UK is the voice of UK manufacturing and engineering, offering campaigning, advice, training and apprenticeships to companies of all sizes.
Make UK is the representative body for manufacturers and engineers across the UK. It says it champions UK manufacturing and engineering through campaigning, sector expertise, business services, apprenticeship training and a member network. Businesses join to gain insights, make connections and access expertise, and the organisation runs regional and national member communities. It advises companies on employment law, health and safety, climate and environment issues, research and information.
The organisation has a long history. It was formed in 1896 as the Engineering Employers' Federation, and merged with the National Employers' Federation in 1918. In November 2003 it became EEF The Manufacturers' Organisation, and in February 2019 it relaunched as Make UK. It says it has supported companies for more than 130 years. The EEF archive is held by the University of Warwick's Modern Records Centre, which is a good source if you are curious about the history of British industry.
Make UK describes its mission as building a strong, sustainable future for UK manufacturing by developing next-generation skills and driving growth and innovation. It lobbies the UK government and other bodies on behalf of manufacturing, engineering and technology businesses, with offices in London and Brussels. Its sector arms include Make UK Defence, which supports defence and security manufacturers and their supply chains, UK Steel, the steel industry's trade association, and Electrify Industry, which focuses on electrification.
Its pages mention regional advisory boards, for example for the West Midlands, so its work is spread across the UK rather than only in London. A 2021 press release shows Make UK's Midlands and East of England regional director taking part in a West Midlands digital adoption scheme with WMG and the Manufacturing Technology Centre. The organisation says it embraces inclusivity and diversity, and lists its values as innovation, integrity, professionalism, reliability, respect and collaboration. It is accredited by the Good Business Charter. These are its own statements.
As an organisation, Make UK employs policy and economics experts, advisers in employment law and health and safety, trainers and apprenticeship staff, events and membership teams, and communications and campaigning staff. It is a good example of a career that supports manufacturing without working on a factory floor. If you like politics, economics, law or business as well as engineering, a body like this lets you work with all of them.
Website: www.makeuk.org
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