“Why UK Manufacturing Needs a Champion”: Insights from Andrea Wilson

Andrea Wilson, Director of Hone-All Precision, is on a mission – and it’s one the entire UK manufacturing sector should be paying attention to.

In a recent episode of Advanced Engineering Talks, Andrea shared her journey from joining the industry in the 1990s to becoming one of its most passionate voices today. Over the course of three decades, she has not only run a successful engineering business but tirelessly advocated for change – particularly when it comes to government support and strategic planning for manufacturing.

A Sector Undervalued and Under-Supported

Andrea’s concern is clear: while the UK is bursting with innovation and technical talent, manufacturing businesses, especially SMEs – are struggling to get the support they need.

“Everything’s been designed here, invented here, prototyped here,” Andrea explains. “But all the manufacturing’s going abroad.” The reason? A tangle of bureaucracy, lack of funding access, and a persistent failure to deliver on long-promised industrial strategies.

The lack of a dedicated voice within government has long frustrated her. Over the years, the role of “Minister for Manufacturing” has existed in name only – shared across portfolios, often without true focus. Her solution? A full-time manufacturing champion, or better yet, a commissioner, backed by a strategic board.

Bringing the SME Voice to the Fore

As Andrea highlights, too much policy is written for and by large OEMs, ignoring the realities faced by small and mid-sized businesses. These are companies run by owner-managers who often wear every hat – machinist, marketer, accountant who often end up with no time left to engage in political lobbying.

Her own efforts to change this include chairing industry bodies, advising on skills panels, and directly lobbying government. Despite all this, she still feels the system isn’t listening – and that much of the data, consultation, and recommendations made over the years have simply been ignored.

“We’ve already done it. We’ve already gathered the evidence. It’s just not been actioned.”

A Broken Skills Pipeline

The skills shortage remains one of the biggest hurdles. Andrea has seen first-hand how perceptions of the industry are holding it back. “The industry still has this outdated perception that we’re dark and dirty,” she says. “There are very few engineering businesses now that are like that.”

When visiting schools, she breaks it down simply: enjoy shopping? You could be a buyer. Love criticising the teacher’s spelling? Contract review might be your path. She makes manufacturing careers relatable and lucrative – showing how roles across quality, IT, procurement, sales, and finance all have a place in modern industry.

A Call for Unity – and Action

Andrea’s ultimate goal is the creation of a central resource hub for manufacturers – a place where businesses can find everything from funding information and school outreach materials to case studies and modern images of the sector. “If you search Google, most of the images are 20, 30, even 80 years out of date.”

She wants to cut through the fragmented noise of the sector and deliver one clear, coherent message to policymakers.

“If we just approached this the way you’d approach running a business – with strategy, collaboration, and accountability – we’d fly.”

Time for Government to Step Up

During COVID-19, when manufacturers stepped up to deliver the ventilator challenge, Andrea saw a glimpse of what recognition could look like. But as the pandemic waned, so too did the government’s interest.

With a general election on the horizon, she has one final push in mind: if nothing changes within six months of a new government forming, she’ll hand the reins of the campaign to someone else. “It does take a lot of time and effort,” she says. “And it’s great when people jump on board – but it’s frustrating when there’s no action to back up the words.”

Final Thoughts

Andrea Wilson’s message is clear, heartfelt, and urgent: UK manufacturing doesn’t just need support – it needs structure, visibility, and a unified voice.

It needs a manufacturing champion.