Regional Manufacturing Outlook 2024

15.07.24

The Make UK/BDO Regional Manufacturing Outlook report examines the contribution of manufacturing to the economies of every English region and the devolved nations. It analyses the most recent official data and Make UK's quarterly data across a wide range of indicators, including output, orders, employment, and investment intentions.

Now in its 10th year of publication, this year's Regional Outlook reports significant job boosts across the devolved nations' respective manufacturing sectors, with the North East of England building on its strong performance in 2023 to once again produce the best results for output volumes and total orders this year.

The South West and Yorkshire and Humber have also performed strongly across output and orders this year, while Wales has shown significant improvements on last year's results, posting the most improved average balance for every metric covered in the report.

Despite generally performant output and healthy order books, investment and employment growth have not seen the same. Between now and the publication of the next edition of this report, the sector's attentions will turn firmly to the regional effects of whatever new, and hopefully bold, industrial strategy the new Labour Government will deliver to place the sector on a long-term growth footing.