What’s on your list of the greatest products made in Britain? Join economics journalist Steve Duke as he criss-crosses the island to meet the people still making things in our factories and workshops. Hear the stories behind some of our most iconic products, told by the people crafting them. Series 6 (numbers 51 to 60 on our list) arrives August 11. “A gem of a series” – Podcast Rex “Thoughtful and warm” – The Guardian ***** “A wonderful, life-affirming podcast” ***** “Important listening with a light touch” 2026 - British Podcast Awards - Shortlisted 2025 – British Podcast Awards – Silver Award 2025 – Independent Podcast Awards – Shortlisted 2024 – British Podcast Awards – Shortlisted 2024 – Independent Podcast Awards – Winner Have a suggestion for what needs to go on our list? Whatsapp me on 07767 888 319. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We’ve hit number 50 on our list of the greatest things we make here, so I thought it would be nice to share some of my favourite moments, as well as your most replayed clips. Since we started The Factory Next Door, we’ve spent hours and hours hanging out with business owners, chatting to them on factory floors and in their offices. They come from different walks of life, creating a wide range of beautiful products. But there’s a unifying factor that comes up time and again in our chats. An element that is repeatedly identified as being crucial to success. Family. Mum, Dad, Brother, Sister, Children – they are often credited with direction and drive. Even when they are not employed by the company, we hear about their influence on business strategy. We start in the city of Gloucester – and close to its beautiful cathedral sits the shirt-maker Emma Willis (Ep. 21). It’s a company that makes shirts for royalty, actors, musicians, as well as for injured service personnel through its Style for Soldiers charity. In this clip, Emma reveals where her company’s strong sense of societal responsibility comes from. For our second clip, we travel to Walthamstow, North London. Here, Han from Black Horse Lane Ateliers (Ep. 24) is explaining to us why he pivoted from making clothes for high street brands to launching his own label making the very finest jeans. For the final clip, we go back to the beginning, to the custom motorbike (Ep. 4). For this episode we went to hang out with husband-and-wife team Vic and Lin from Destiny Cycles – makers of the finest choppers this side of the Atlantic. In this clip, Lin discusses her pride for Vic’s work. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We’ve hit number 50 on our list of the greatest things we make here, so I thought it would be nice to share some of my favourite moments, as well as your most replayed clips. Our manufacturers are undoubtedly facing strong headwinds. Many business owners tell me it’s tougher now than it’s been for decades. Despite this, on our travels around the country, we’ve met a few extraordinary people who have decided to face the challenge head on and buy a factory. In this compilation, we begin in Stoke-on-Trent, where we met the wonderful artist, Susan Rose (Ep. 41). Before asking her why she’d recently taken-over a pottery – I wanted to know from the previous-owner Tony, why he was exiting the family business. In Ep. 30 we met Paul Jacobs. He lives in the Netherlands but spends a lot of time in Sheffield these days. Can you remember why he bought scissor-maker Ernest Wright? For our third clip we stay in Sheffield, with Buffalo Systems – which makes outdoor clothing. Having just bought the factory, Ben Fogle and James Sleater (Ep. 42) invited us along to have a look around, but before asking them why they’d bought the brand – we wanted a quick gossip with the team. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We’ve hit number 50 on our list of the greatest things we make here, so I thought it would be nice to look back at some of my favourite moments from the show, as well as your most replayed clips. Over the coming weeks, I’ll share a few compilations. We’ll start with moments that hit me hard. The Factory Next Door might be about manufacturing, but it’s also a love letter to people making things in our communities; people who have stories to share. In this compilation, we begin on the Isle of Wight, at the RNLI’s factory making inflatable lifeboats (Ep. 23). Who would have thought the name of a boat would leave me choked up? In Ep. 37 when I sat down with Merry from Border Oak to ask why she does what she does, her love for her dad caught me completely off-guard. Finally, we have a clip from Ep. 46. If you want to manufacture things in Britain, your company must show extraordinary resilience – but when I started my chat with Naomi from lingerie company Edge o Beyond, I had no idea about the personal resilience she’d brought to her brand. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
When you’ve been learning your craft for almost two and a half centuries, you can confidently call yourself ‘the world’s finest’. John Smedley have been making their knitwear in Derbyshire since 1784. Number 50 on our list of the greatest things we make here is The Knitted Polo Shirt. On this week’s The Factory Next Door we head to Matlock to visit John Smedley’s historic Lea Mills. Managing Director Jess McGuire Dudley gives us a tour as she reflects on her first year in charge. We hear why there’s a renewed interest in apprenticeships at the factory, consider the therapeutic qualities of linking, discover which job requires the steadiest hand, and chat about collaborating with actor Bill Nighy. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor The Factory Next Door is supported by AVEVA, a leader in industrial intelligence. Sign up to their bi-weekly newsletter about manufacturing here: www.aveva.com/factory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Spend a day in any major city from Seoul to San Francisco and you’ll spot them weaving through the traffic – a bicycle with distinctive small wheels and arched top tube. Brompton’s folding bike is an example of a great British design that’s loved around the world. More than 1.2m have now been sold. Number 49 on our list of the greatest things we make here is The Folding Bicycle. On this week’s The Factory Next Door we head to Greenford in West London to meet the team making these beautiful bikes. CEO Will Butler-Adams OBE explains why they are an engineering company that makes bicycles, not the other way around. We go for a quick ride, see bikes being beaten up, and learn why manufacturing in London is integral to Brompton’s future. Plus, we chat about what success looks like, learn where the name ‘Brompton’ came from, consider truck-driving in clogs, and explore how businesses can help drive positive change. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor The Factory Next Door is supported by AVEVA, a leader in industrial intelligence. Sign up to their bi-weekly newsletter about manufacturing here: www.aveva.com/factory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Over the past 20 years, the amount we spend on shoes in the UK has tripled. It now stands at £14bn. During the same period, our domestic footwear industry has dramatically shrunk. The vast majority of shoes we buy are now made overseas. One town remains synonymous with shoemaking. Northampton. And it’s here that you can still find craftspeople making some of the finest shoes in the world. Brands like Crockett and Jones, Edward Green, Tricker’s and Joseph Cheaney & Sons are still selling their shoes to the world. In this special episode of The Factory Next Door, we head off on a tour of Northampton to ask a simple question: What can we do today, to ensure that in 10 years time Northampton’s historic shoe industry is growing again? We begin at last makers Springline, where director Michael chats to us about how we can help ourselves. He also shares a story that breaks my heart. Chris, founder of Crown Northampton shows us around his factory making the world’s finest trainer, as we consider overhauling the benefits of working in the industry. And then we pop in to visit a friend of the show, William Church from Cheaney to discuss the challenges facing the industry right now – and how to overcome them. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor The Factory Next Door is supported by AVEVA, a leader in industrial intelligence. Sign up to their bi-weekly newsletter about manufacturing here: www.aveva.com/factory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Pitching a 24-metre-long tent is one thing. Manufacturing one requires a whole different set of skills, including cloth cutting, sewing, woodwork and a good understanding of mathematics. On this week’s The Factory Next Door we head to North Yorkshire to meet a team striving to keep alive the ancient art of tent making. Number 48 on our list of the greatest things we make here is The Wedding Tent by Wills Marquees. Co-founder Chris Brawn gives us a tour of their workshop as we learn about the beauty of light cutting through cotton, consider why tent-making is both easy and difficult, and ask whether nice people can succeed in business. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor The Factory Next Door is supported by AVEVA, a leader in industrial intelligence. Sign up to their bi-weekly newsletter about manufacturing here: www.aveva.com/factory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
When the world’s best surgeons spread a rib cage or clamp a blood vessel, they rely on instruments hammered and filed by skilled hands in a Sheffield workshop. On this week’s The Factory Next Door we head to Platts & Nisbett, manufacturers of surgical instruments for almost half-a-century. Number 47 on our list of the greatest things we make here is The Surgical Clamp. Alyson Nisbett gives us a factory tour as we learn why machines can’t make these instruments, we consider the responsibility that comes with hand-crafting life-saving equipment, and we ponder where a five-inch nail goes in the body. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor The Factory Next Door is supported by AVEVA, a leader in industrial intelligence. Sign up to their bi-weekly newsletter about manufacturing here: www.aveva.com/factory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Smalls are a big market. Annual underwear sales in the UK top £400m. Much of it used to be made domestically (with a thriving cluster in south Wales), but, in the past 15 years, that industry has dramatically shrunk. Today, just a few artisan lingerie companies survive. On this week’s The Factory Next Door, we head to New Tredegar in South Wales to meet Naomi Edmondson, the founder of lingerie company Edge o’ Beyond. Number 46 on our list of the greatest products we make here is The Luxury Lingerie. Naomi gives us a tour of her factory as we chat about the challenges of keeping lingerie manufacturing alive in the Welsh valleys. Plus, we talk about the physical power of beautifully made underwear and being banned from social media. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor The Factory Next Door is supported by AVEVA, a leader in industrial intelligence. Sign up to their bi-weekly newsletter about manufacturing here: www.aveva.com/factory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What does it take to make a product so special customers will wait years to get their hands on one? In the world of horology, Rebecca and Craig Struthers have built themselves an enviable reputation using traditional tools and methods to craft extraordinary timepieces. Their watches are so popular the waiting time for one is currently seven years (they are working to bring that down!) Number 45 on our list of the greatest products we make here is The Mechanical Watch by Struthers Watchmakers. On this week’s The Factory Next Door, we visit Leek in Staffordshire to meet the husband-and-wife team who say their journey into horology was an accident. We learn about the joys of vintage lathes, consider why it matters that kids can read analogue watches, and celebrate the humble white piece of A4 paper. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor The Factory Next Door is supported by AVEVA, a leader in industrial intelligence. Sign up to their bi-weekly newsletter about manufacturing here: www.aveva.com/factory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Every company has a lifespan. Some have two. Over the course of a century, glasses-maker Curry & Paxton went from pioneering new optical instruments, to becoming a key supplier to the NHS, to appearing in iconic movies. Then, in 1987, they vanished. On this week’s The Factory Next Door, we visit the workshop where they are breathing new life into this heritage British brand. Number 44 on our list of the greatest products we make here are The Optical Glasses. Peter Lynes, director at Curry & Paxton tells us why, after a 30-year career working with British clothing brands, he wanted to jump into the world of eyewear and revive this glasses maker. During our factory tour, Peter shares insights into how to build a brand and explains why he now wakes up with a heightened sense of purpose. Also on the show, glasses maker Mila gives thanks to his Grandad and celebrates a machine maker who transformed his life. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor The Factory Next Door is supported by AVEVA, a leader in industrial intelligence. Sign up to their bi-weekly newsletter about manufacturing here: www.aveva.com/factory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The market for jams and preserves might seem… well, jam-packed, but get your recipe right and you’ll find space to grow. Number 43 on our list of the greatest products we make here is The Premium Preserve. On this week’s The Factory Next Door we visit Bristol to meet Nicola Elliott, founder of award-winning jam maker Single Variety Co. Nicola gives us a tour of her expanding factory as she explains why consistency is so hard in jam-making. She also reveals how a cancelled wedding helped transform her business and shares her big dream for the future. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor The Factory Next Door is supported by AVEVA, a leader in industrial intelligence. Sign up to their bi-weekly newsletter about manufacturing here: www.aveva.com/factory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
There are somethings you can’t know about a company until you’ve bought it and had a riffle through the filing cabinets. In the case of clothing maker Buffalo Systems, it was numerous letters of appreciation from special forces, the military, and mountain rescue teams. Number 42 on our list of the greatest products we make here is The Mountain Shirt by Buffalo. Broadcaster and adventurer Ben Fogle and Savile Row tailor James Sleater acquired the Sheffield-based company earlier this year. On this week’s show, they explain why they had always wanted to buy the company. Plus, we also get an exclusive look at a special new product, consider why Britain has so few global luxury brands, and hear why slow growth is sustainable growth. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor The Factory Next Door is supported by AVEVA, a leader in industrial intelligence. Sign up to their bi-weekly newsletter about manufacturing here: www.aveva.com/factory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
There’s plenty of reasons to buy a British manufacturer right now. On this week’s episode, artist Susan Rose reveals why she’s just done that – acquiring a pottery in Stoke-on-Trent. We take a tour to learn about getting the thickness of mugs just right, the art of the kiln-stack, and why the random-shake of a cup in water is not always what it seems. We also hear about overcoming dyslexia to build a business, and why a little help from your friends is so often invaluable. Plus, Susan gives thanks for the birds, saves a butterfly, and makes a mug for The Factory Next Door. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor The Factory Next Door is supported by AVEVA, a leader in industrial intelligence. Sign up to their bi-weekly newsletter about manufacturing here: www.aveva.com/factory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
When the ultra-wealthy want a new set of bespoke bedding for their mansion or superyacht, they email a mill that sits just outside Blackburn, Lancashire. Peter Reed – whose customers include the Royal Household – has been producing handcrafted bedding for more than 160 years. Number 40 on our list of the greatest products we make here is The Bed Linen. Managing Director Sean Clayton explains how the company survived as the British cotton industry rapidly declined, questions why some skills are under-appreciated, and reveals why he never talks politics or religion. We also learn how a single duvet cover can take five hours to complete with 12 embroidery machines, each with nine bobbins on, stitching simultaneously. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor The Factory Next Door is supported by AVEVA, a leader in industrial intelligence. Sign up to their bi-weekly newsletter about manufacturing here: www.aveva.com/factory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The global market for saw blades might be worth $16bn a year, but there’s only one saw factory left in the UK. In today’s show we visit Sheffield’s Thomas Flinn & Co to learn how they’ve been cutting teeth for the past 100 years. Number 39 on our list of the greatest products we make here is The Musical Saw. Director Katie Ellis’ family have owned the company for generations. She explains why heritage crafts must be preserved, how her company has pivoted to survive in the era of cheap imports, and why she’s moving to new premises – just don’t suggest leaving Sheffield. We also learn how to file 200 teeth in under two minutes, get a quick explanation of how musical saws work, and find novel ways to use Lego. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor The Factory Next Door is supported by AVEVA, a leader in industrial intelligence. Sign up to their bi-weekly newsletter about manufacturing here: www.aveva.com/factory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Earlier this year, Blue Ghost became the first commercial lunar lander to touch down on the moon. Crucial to that mission’s success was its engine – a rocket designed and built in the Buckinghamshire countryside. Number 38 on our list of the greatest items we make in Britain is The Rocket Engine. At a former military base, Dr Ian Coxhill, chief engineer at Nammo UK, shows us around the workshops where propulsion systems are made for space agencies and commercial operators. Ian demonstrates how to recreate the conditions of space at ground level, reflects on the art of engineering, and offers evidence to suggest robots aren’t going to replace humans yet. Plus, we hear the roar of a rocket engine as one is put through its paces at the test facility. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor The Factory Next Door is supported by AVEVA, a leader in industrial intelligence. Sign up to their bi-weekly newsletter about manufacturing here: www.aveva.com/factory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We almost lost the art of building homes from oak in Britain. Thankfully, someone in Herefordshire wasn’t going to let that happen. In today’s show we celebrate a dad who revived the medieval craft and built a business. Number 37 on our list of the greatest items we make here is The Oak-Framed Home. Merry Albright is creative director of Border Oak, and daughter of the founder, John David Greene. She shows us around the firm’s workshops in Leominster as we celebrate the skills her dad had to relearn and then teach others. Also on the show, we consider why we stopped making homes from trees, invite MPs to look through the company’s business accounts, question why the planning system became so combative, and fall in love with a boxed heart. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor The Factory Next Door is supported by AVEVA, a leader in industrial intelligence. Sign up to their bi-weekly newsletter about manufacturing here: www.aveva.com/factory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The American sneaker market is worth $25bn. It is the biggest in the world – and growing. But it’s a crowded market. You need a stellar USP to stand out. Sheffield-based trainer-maker Goral has one – and it’s finding success selling to US sneakerheads. Number 36 on our list of the greatest items we make here is The Resoleable Sneaker. On this week’s episode of The Factory Next Door, Dom Goral shows us how they’ve designed leather trainers with soles that can be replaced. We chat about relocating the factory from Poland to a former school in Yorkshire, how influencers have helped build the brand in America, and why it’s good to question every part of the process. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor Please consider voting for the show at this year’s British Podcast Awards: www.britishpodcastawards.com/voting The Factory Next Door is supported by AVEVA, a leader in industrial intelligence. Sign up to their bi-weekly newsletter about manufacturing here: www.aveva.com/factory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Design a timeless classic and the ripples from that one idea can be felt across industries for decades. Take Ercol’s Windsor Dining Chair, number 35 on our list of the greatest items we make here. It may be more than 70 years old, but its impact and influence remains significant. Today it’s even helping revive the British wood industry decades after being ravaged by Dutch Elm Disease. On this week’s The Factory Next Door, Ercol’s Chairman and Creative Director, Henry Tadros, shows us around their purpose-built modern factory close to High Wycombe, the historic heartland of UK furniture-making. We question what makes a design timeless, watch the beauty and drama of wood bending, and learn why some outsourcing has been an important part of the company’s survival. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor And if you want to vote for the show at the British Podcast Awards, you can at this website: www.britishpodcastawards.com/voting The Factory Next Door is supported by AVEVA, a leader in industrial intelligence. Sign up to their bi-weekly newsletter about manufacturing here: www.aveva.com/factory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
