Wednesday 12th Nov 2025
In recent years, macroeconomic pressures such as energy costs, supply chain disruption, and sustainability mandates have pushed UK manufacturers to reconsider global sourcing. One initiative gaining traction is the UK Steel Charter (via Make UK), which encourages organisations to prioritise domestically produced steel.
Recent data from the
Office for National Statistics shows that UK manufacturing production declined by 0.8% year-on-year in August 2025, following a 0.1% fall in July. While these figures point to ongoing challenges, they also highlight the importance of strengthening domestic supply chains to reduce external vulnerabilities.
Projects such as Sizewell C, which has pledged over £700 million in UK steel procurement, underscore how large-scale infrastructure investment can drive demand within domestic supply chains. (Referenced via public announcements around the Charter.)
What these stats mean for fasteners & component makers
For fastener and component manufacturers, policies such as the UK Steel Charter gain relevance when viewed against broader national steel and manufacturing trends:
- The UK steel industry itself produces only a small share globally: in 2023, the UK produced 5.6 million tonnes of crude steel, which represented just 0.3 % of global output. House of Commons Library
- The UK is heavily dependent on steel imports: in 2024, iron & steel imports were valued at around US $6.9 billion. Trading Economics
- At the same time, domestic steel deliveries to the UK market declined substantially (a 28 % drop in producer deliveries) per the 2024 UK Steel Key Statistics report. UK Steel
These patterns highlight a strategic opening: fastener firms that can integrate traceable UK steel sources may stand out in bidding processes, reduce transport risk, and better manage supply volatility.
One more macro anchor: manufacturing accounts for about 8.8 % of UK economic output (GVA) in the first half of 2025.
House of Commons Library. That scale means the manufacturing ecosystem, including fasteners, components, and downstream industries, has weight in the economy and is sensitive to shifts in steel policy, trade, and procurement.
Sustainability, regulation & long-term trends
Beyond economics, environmental and regulatory imperatives are reinforcing the case for domestic sourcing:
- The UK government’s "steel strategy” policy documents note that 36,000 tonnes of steel in 2022–23 were used in public defence procurement, representing about 10 % of total public procurement by volume. GOV.UK
- Domestic procurement reduces transport emissions and fosters closer collaboration throughout the supply chain, a benefit increasingly demanded by OEMs and public contracts as ESG (environmental, social, governance) criteria become stricter.
For fasteners in particular, traceability of material origin, certification of alloy makeup, and demonstrable sustainability credentials will likely gain importance in tender selection and customer trust.
Building a stronger future for UK manufacturing
As the industry continues to evolve, initiatives like the UK Steel Charter highlight the importance of collaboration, quality and resilience across every level of the supply chain. For British manufacturers, now is the time to strengthen partnerships and showcase the value of locally made, precision-engineered components.
At Clevedon Fasteners, we remain committed to supporting the future of UK manufacturing with high-quality fasteners, trusted service and dependable supply.
Get in touch to discuss how we can support your next project.