The thinktank Fashion Roundtable is set to hand-deliver a letter to No 10 on Wednesday afternoon, advocating for the manufacturing of uniforms for British defence forces and NHS staff to take place within the UK.
More than 1,200 individuals, including adventurer Ben Fogle and Patrick Grant from The British Sewing Bee, have signed the letter. They argue that public procurement contracts for textile goods awarded to UK-based manufacturers could be crucial for preserving the nation's manufacturing industry, supporting skills retention, inclusive growth, and regional resilience.
According to an estimate by a Fashion Roundtable economist, the NHS and Ministry of Defence spend approximately £120 million annually on uniforms. Currently, 55% of these uniforms are manufactured overseas.
Kate Hills, founder of Make It British, suggested that such contracts could provide stability for manufacturers, encouraging employment and long-term planning. Patrick Grant, who invested in military outfitters Cookson & Clegg, also believes this legislation would be a boost, providing the steady business and long-term demand manufacturing requires.
Concerns have also been raised regarding the security implications of uniforms being made in countries with potentially unstable relationships, as well as the complexity of the current bidding process for smaller companies.