National Manufacturing Day
Powering manufacturing growth
Funding is the enabler turning manufacturing ambition into growth, especially in a digitally evolving landscape.
National Manufacturing Day is an opportunity to recognise the impact of a sector that plays a central role in the UK economy. Last year, manufacturing supported 2.6 million jobs and generated £217 billion in economic output, according to Make UK’s The Facts 2024.
Manufacturing has always been about creating the future, and today that future is being increasingly shaped by digital transformation. For UK businesses, technology such as artificial intelligence (AI), digital twins, and robotics, present huge potential. Yet, realising this digital opportunity remains a challenge.
Dr. Séamus Nevin, Chief Economist at Make UK, recently observed:
“Time and again, we hear from small and medium-sized manufacturers that they’re keen to adopt new technologies, but are being held back by fragmented support, complex funding systems, and a lack of accessible, appropriate digital skills training. If we want to unlock a £150 billion boost to UK GDP by 2035, we must make it easier for SMEs to adopt automation and AI.”
Ambition alone does not drive growth. To turn vision into reality, manufacturers need the financial capacity to invest, expand, and adapt. That is why funding is becoming the critical enabler of progress.
Funding as a catalyst for change and growth
The growth stories emerging across UK manufacturing share a common theme: ambition backed by blended funding.
Consider Andel Ltd, an environmental protection specialist. Arbuthnot Commercial Asset Based Lending (ACABL) structured a £2.6 million growth funding facility, combining a £2 million Confidential Invoice Discounting line with a £600,000 Growth Guarantee Scheme loan.
Mark Harris, Commercial Director at Andel Ltd, explained:
“We’ve doubled our turnover in the last three years, and we are projecting to double again in the next three years. So that takes a lot of financing. This is not bulk market lending; it’s niche market lending, and it’s a very good fit for companies like ours that need support for significant growth.”
A similar story can be seen at Ashbrook Holdings Limited (Ashbrook Group). ACABL provided a £2m funding package to support its acquisition of Webb Injection Moulders Limited. The transaction was part of a buy-and-build acquisition strategy and included a blend of invoice discounting facilities and a Growth Guarantee Scheme loan. This structured approach not only supported the acquisition but also created a platform for future growth.
Leon Edwards, Executive Chairman of Ashbrook Holdings Limited, said:
“We’re looking to create a group of similar businesses that are geographically spread, operating in different sectors with skills that we can share across the group. We will solidify the injection moulding business first, then look at adjacencies like joinery or metal fabrication. The beautiful thing about ACABL is they think about the deal – and genuinely want to get it done. Our position is not to go around the market, we want to build with Arbuthnot. In fact, I spoke to them about the next opportunity only this morning.”
In both cases, the strategy was clear, but it was funding that enabled execution.
Blended funding – the path forward for manufacturing evolution
Manufacturers combining blended funding solutions – from the Growth Guarantee Scheme to asset-based lending and cash flow loans – are creating headroom to seize opportunities and drive scale. National Manufacturing Day is a timely reminder that this sector continues to power progress, productivity, and performance. The key lesson is clear: growth requires more than vision, it demands the funding to make it possible.
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Turn your invoices, stock, plant and machinery, and property into working capital. As an award-winning lender accredited by the British Business Bank, we deliver fast, flexible funding with direct access to decision-makers, backed by the strength and stability of Arbuthnot Latham’s balance sheet - so you can move quickly and grow confidently.
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