Make it British LIVE! will be welcoming over 5,000 visitors to The Old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, for the fifth edition. Taking place on the 23rd and 24th of May, the trade show is the only 100% British sourcing event, dedicated to UK manufacturers and British-made brands.

This year will see 56 new exhibitors, including a blocked hat manufacturer, a yarn dyer, Britain’s only natural button makers, a holistic skincare brand and a saddlery company. In total, there will be 200 exhibitors, 30% of which are family businesses. There are 28 garment manufacturers, 7 machinery suppliers and 35 producers of accessories, from umbrellas and hip flasks to scarves and socks. Moreover, many of the companies exhibiting have a history of over 100 years, with two being founded in the 1700’s.

“Some of these century-old firms have never exhibited at a trade show before. This makes you realise just how much the industry needs a platform like this to promote what they do. Whether a company is 100 years old or brand new, most of them are facing the same challenge at the moment – finding skilled staff. A lack of young people coming into the industry affects everyone attending this show in some way, which is why we wanted to make sure that skills and training were high on the agenda this year. We’ve teamed up with the UKFT to dedicate one of the halls to a manufacturing skills exhibition, which highlights the work being done to support a new generation of talent. It includes a skills consultation area with UKFT’s skills and training specialists,” said Kate Hills, founder of Make it British and Make it British Live!.

The two-day event will also include a symposium, chaired by renowned industry commentator Eric Musgrave and will feature 25 speakers, with an accumulated experience in manufacturing in the UK of over 500 years.

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