The Worshipful Company of Saddlers has praised the Made in Britain trademark for helping to facilitate the export of 80% of British-made saddles abroad.
In recent years, post-Brexit regulations, export finance concerns and growing logistical barriers have made it increasingly difficult for saddlers to globally export British-made saddlers but the unification of British-made manufacturers under the Made in Britain trademark has helped the industry navigate these challenges.
The historic UK leatherworking and saddlery non-profit organisation hosted the Made in Britain team at its Showcase of British saddlery and leather goods event in the City of London last month.
The annual event welcomed industry leaders and representatives from the Department for Business and Trade, the Chartered Institute for Export and International Trade and Made in Britain to discuss the difficulties UK manufacturers face in exporting their goods overseas and explore solutions.
Export challenges
“Over the last few years, those in the trade have expressed concerns over the increasing difficulty of exporting their goods – whether due to export finance, the growing pile of paperwork, Brexit, or even securing insurance for products once they leave the UK,” said Philip Napier, clerk to the Worshipful Company of Saddlers.
“That’s why we were so pleased to have key industry leaders, including John Pearce from Made in Britain and representatives from the Department for Business and Trade and the Chartered Institute for Export and International Trade, deliver passionate addresses that served to inspire and give confidence to those in attendance.”
Industry leaders are calling for greater collaboration between manufacturers, trade bodies, and government to establish stronger partnerships that can ease export processes and ensure the longevity of one of Britain’s oldest surviving trades.
“The saddlery industry is an extraordinary example of British manufacturing at its finest – combining heritage, craftsmanship, and world-class innovation,” said John Pearce, ceo of Made in Britain.
“With sustained overseas interest in the centuries-old craft, it’s clear that UK saddlers must be recognised and supported.
‘A premium reputation’
“We know that British-made goods hold a premium reputation abroad, and the Made in Britain mark enables our members to enhance their credibility in key markets like the USA, Germany, France, and Scandinavia.
“We want to see more British saddlery businesses proudly displaying the mark to boost visibility and support collective export success. They’re truly Made in Britain and trusted worldwide.”
Albion Saddlemakers are one example of a British-based saddler who have partnered with Made in Britain.
“British saddlery alone isn’t enough to sustain large companies – they have to export. That’s why we’ve partnered with Made in Britain. The more saddlers who use the mark, the stronger its credibility and the greater the cohesion. It’s about making British-made products more visible on the world stage,” said Cath Pagnillo-Gordon, managing director of Albion Saddlemakers.
“Events like this are vital for us to share knowledge and explore new ways to overcome the challenges of post-Brexit trade.”
Images © Worshipful Company of Saddlers.
