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The Factory Next Door

Steve Duke

What’s on your list of the greatest products made in Britain?

Join economics journalist Steve Duke as he criss-crosses the island to meet the people still making things in our factories and workshops. Hear the stories behind some of our most iconic products, told by the people crafting them.

“A gem of a series” – Podcast Rex

“Thoughtful and warm” – The Guardian

***** “A wonderful, life-affirming podcast”

***** “Important listening with a light touch”

2026 – British Podcast Awards – Gold Award

2026 – 2x The Signal Awards – Shortlisted

2026 – The Lovie Awards – Shortlisted

2026 – 2x Independent Podcast Awards – Shortlisted

2025 – British Podcast Awards – Silver Award

2025 – Independent Podcast Awards – Shortlisted

2024 – British Podcast Awards – Shortlisted

2024 – Independent Podcast Awards – Winner

Have a suggestion for what needs to go on our list? Whatsapp me on 07767 888 319.

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Yesterday · 36 min
56. The Rivet Stool
It’s truly one of our greatest materials. We make shoes from it; clothes, books, bags and furniture. Leather is extraordinary. Over the millennia, we’ve become adept at using it. Today, in a West London workshop, a group of craftspeople continue to experiment with leather – learning how to manipulate it to create floors, stairs, tables, and freestanding stools. On today’s The Factory Next Door, we meet the team at Bill Amberg Studio, the globally celebrated experts in architectural leatherwork. Number 56 on our list of the greatest things we manufacture here is The Rivet Stool. Bill Amberg shows us around his studio as we learn what it takes to build a client list that goes from Apple to Aston Martin, Boodles to Burberry – and then right down through the alphabet! Also on the show, we consider the importance of the Mingei movement, contemplate the things we think about before we go to sleep, contemplate politicians working in a factory, and hear why leather work is far from a dying craft. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/thefactorynextdoor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
October 6 · 36 min
55. The Hand-Sewn Kilt
For 500 years highland dress has been synonymous with Scotland, but these days there are more kilt-makers in India than within its home country. On today’s The Factory Next Door we head to a workshop just off Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, where efforts are being made to preserve the art of traditional kilt-making. Number 55 on our list of the greatest things we manufacture here is The Hand-Sewn Kilt. As we tour Nicolson Kiltmakers, directors Gordon and Louise reveal the gamble they took to set up the Edinburgh Kiltmakers Academy, we learn the maths behind the pleats, request a brief history of the kilt, and hear the importance of provenance. Also on the show, MoD contracts leave us confused, a refugee from Europe’s war reminds us to value our roots, and I get my trousers off… again. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/thefactorynextdoor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 22 · 33 min
54. The Helter Skelter
You never quite know what you’re going to find when you visit one of our manufacturers. On today’s episode of The Factory Next Door, we head to Avonmouth to visit a bespoke storage maker – but what we discover is far from expected. We hear stories of serious fraud, do our daily stretches, go welding with Daft Punk, and see the frame of a 15-meter-high slide being lovingly bent into shape. Number 54 on our list of the greatest things we make here is The Helter Skelter by Moduflex. Managing Director Richard Blunden shows us around as we learn what it takes to keep a company going through its darkest days, discuss the importance of a strong employee culture, and consider the benefits of designing next door to the factory floor. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/thefactorynextdoor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 8 · 31 min
53. The Ceremonial Uniform
When you need someone to escort the King’s crown to Parliament for the state opening, you call on his Majesty’s Gentleman at Arms – with their distinctive red and gold jackets. And when you need someone to make a new uniform for this historic corps, you call Jules Walker and her team at Gieves and Hawkes. Number 53 on our list of the greatest things we make here is The Ceremonial Uniform. Jules is head of the tailor’s military team, and on today’s show she gives us a tour of her workshop in the basement of 1 Savile Row. We learn what it takes to make uniforms for the King’s Guards, discover what an epaulette is, and consider the parallels between tailoring and plumbing. Also on the show, we mull the need for a Ministry of Made in Britain and question why buyers from overseas appear to value our crafts more than we do. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/thefactorynextdoor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
August 25 · 40 min
52. The Propelling Pencil
The epicentre of the global pen industry used to reside in Birmingham. Then the plastic biro arrived and everything changed. But in the city’s jewellery quarter, a team of skilled silversmiths are ensuring the history of Birmingham’s pen industry continues to be written. Number 52 on our list of the greatest things we make here is the propelling pencil by YARD-O-LED. Owner Giles English shows us around the company’s historic workshop as we celebrate a 100-year-old design, admire irreplaceable machines, and learn the meaning behind the company’s distinctive name. Also on the show, we explore the power of loss, Giles talks about the birth and sale of the Bremont Watch Company, and we discover the important distinction between chasing and engraving. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
August 11 · 31 min
51. The Remembrance Wreath
Inspired by a poem about the horrors of war, the red poppy is worn by millions of people every year to commemorate those who have died in conflict. And every November, on Remembrance Sunday, poppy wreaths of varying sizes are placed beside graves and war memorials. Each one is made by a small team in Richmond, Southwest London. Number 51 on our list of the greatest things we make here is The Remembrance Wreath. On this week’s The Factory Next Door, we head to The Poppy Factory to see how they are made. Director of production Jeff Short shows us around as we learn how to manage people with PTSD, make a lapel poppy with one arm, and celebrate paper coffee cup off-cuts. Plus, we learn about transferring skills from the boxing ring to the production line, give thanks for the SS America, and hang out with a biker gang. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 29 · 15 min
Most replayed moments. The greatest business strategy
We’ve hit number 50 on our list of the greatest things we make here, so I thought it would be nice to share some of my favourite moments, as well as your most replayed clips. Since we started The Factory Next Door, we’ve spent hours and hours hanging out with business owners, chatting to them on factory floors and in their offices. They come from different walks of life, creating a wide range of beautiful products. But there’s a unifying factor that comes up time and again in our chats. An element that is repeatedly identified as being crucial to success. Family. Mum, Dad, Brother, Sister, Children – they are often credited with direction and drive. Even when they are not employed by the company, we hear about their influence on business strategy. We start in the city of Gloucester – and close to its beautiful cathedral sits the shirt-maker Emma Willis (Ep. 21). It’s a company that makes shirts for royalty, actors, musicians, as well as for injured service personnel through its Style for Soldiers charity. In this clip, Emma reveals where her company’s strong sense of societal responsibility comes from. For our second clip, we travel to Walthamstow, North London. Here, Han from Black Horse Lane Ateliers (Ep. 24) is explaining to us why he pivoted from making clothes for high street brands to launching his own label making the very finest jeans. For the final clip, we go back to the beginning, to the custom motorbike (Ep. 4). For this episode we went to hang out with husband-and-wife team Vic and Lin from Destiny Cycles – makers of the finest choppers this side of the Atlantic. In this clip, Lin discusses her pride for Vic’s work. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 22 · 16 min
Most replayed moments. Why I bought a British factory
We’ve hit number 50 on our list of the greatest things we make here, so I thought it would be nice to share some of my favourite moments, as well as your most replayed clips. Our manufacturers are undoubtedly facing strong headwinds. Many business owners tell me it’s tougher now than it’s been for decades. Despite this, on our travels around the country, we’ve met a few extraordinary people who have decided to face the challenge head on and buy a factory. In this compilation, we begin in Stoke-on-Trent, where we met the wonderful artist, Susan Rose (Ep. 41). Before asking her why she’d recently taken-over a pottery – I wanted to know from the previous-owner Tony, why he was exiting the family business. In Ep. 30 we met Paul Jacobs. He lives in the Netherlands but spends a lot of time in Sheffield these days. Can you remember why he bought scissor-maker Ernest Wright? For our third clip we stay in Sheffield, with Buffalo Systems – which makes outdoor clothing. Having just bought the factory, Ben Fogle and James Sleater (Ep. 42) invited us along to have a look around, but before asking them why they’d bought the brand – we wanted a quick gossip with the team. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 15 · 15 min
Most replayed moments. Stories from our makers that made me cry
We’ve hit number 50 on our list of the greatest things we make here, so I thought it would be nice to look back at some of my favourite moments from the show, as well as your most replayed clips. Over the coming weeks, I’ll share a few compilations. We’ll start with moments that hit me hard. The Factory Next Door might be about manufacturing, but it’s also a love letter to people making things in our communities; people who have stories to share. In this compilation, we begin on the Isle of Wight, at the RNLI’s factory making inflatable lifeboats (Ep. 23). Who would have thought the name of a boat would leave me choked up? In Ep. 37 when I sat down with Merry from Border Oak to ask why she does what she does, her love for her dad caught me completely off-guard. Finally, we have a clip from Ep. 46. If you want to manufacture things in Britain, your company must show extraordinary resilience – but when I started my chat with Naomi from lingerie company Edge o Beyond, I had no idea about the personal resilience she’d brought to her brand. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 21 · 35 min
50. The Knitted Polo Shirt
When you’ve been learning your craft for almost two and a half centuries, you can confidently call yourself ‘the world’s finest’. John Smedley have been making their knitwear in Derbyshire since 1784. Number 50 on our list of the greatest things we make here is The Knitted Polo Shirt. On this week’s The Factory Next Door we head to Matlock to visit John Smedley’s historic Lea Mills. Managing Director Jess McGuire Dudley gives us a tour as she reflects on her first year in charge. We hear why there’s a renewed interest in apprenticeships at the factory, consider the therapeutic qualities of linking, discover which job requires the steadiest hand, and chat about collaborating with actor Bill Nighy. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor The Factory Next Door is supported by AVEVA, a leader in industrial intelligence. Sign up to their bi-weekly newsletter about manufacturing here: www.aveva.com/factory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
April 7 · 39 min
49. The Folding Bicycle
Spend a day in any major city from Seoul to San Francisco and you’ll spot them weaving through the traffic – a bicycle with distinctive small wheels and arched top tube. Brompton’s folding bike is an example of a great British design that’s loved around the world. More than 1.2m have now been sold. Number 49 on our list of the greatest things we make here is The Folding Bicycle. On this week’s The Factory Next Door we head to Greenford in West London to meet the team making these beautiful bikes. CEO Will Butler-Adams OBE explains why they are an engineering company that makes bicycles, not the other way around. We go for a quick ride, see bikes being beaten up, and learn why manufacturing in London is integral to Brompton’s future. Plus, we chat about what success looks like, learn where the name ‘Brompton’ came from, consider truck-driving in clogs, and explore how businesses can help drive positive change. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor The Factory Next Door is supported by AVEVA, a leader in industrial intelligence. Sign up to their bi-weekly newsletter about manufacturing here: www.aveva.com/factory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
March 17 · 55 min
Bonus Ep. Northampton. How to grow our shoe industry
Over the past 20 years, the amount we spend on shoes in the UK has tripled. It now stands at £14bn. During the same period, our domestic footwear industry has dramatically shrunk. The vast majority of shoes we buy are now made overseas. One town remains synonymous with shoemaking. Northampton. And it’s here that you can still find craftspeople making some of the finest shoes in the world. Brands like Crockett and Jones, Edward Green, Tricker’s and Joseph Cheaney & Sons are still selling their shoes to the world. In this special episode of The Factory Next Door, we head off on a tour of Northampton to ask a simple question: What can we do today, to ensure that in 10 years time Northampton’s historic shoe industry is growing again? We begin at last makers Springline, where director Michael chats to us about how we can help ourselves. He also shares a story that breaks my heart. Chris, founder of Crown Northampton shows us around his factory making the world’s finest trainer, as we consider overhauling the benefits of working in the industry. And then we pop in to visit a friend of the show, William Church from Cheaney to discuss the challenges facing the industry right now – and how to overcome them. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor The Factory Next Door is supported by AVEVA, a leader in industrial intelligence. Sign up to their bi-weekly newsletter about manufacturing here: www.aveva.com/factory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
March 3 · 30 min
48. The Wedding Tent
Pitching a 24-metre-long tent is one thing. Manufacturing one requires a whole different set of skills, including cloth cutting, sewing, woodwork and a good understanding of mathematics. On this week’s The Factory Next Door we head to North Yorkshire to meet a team striving to keep alive the ancient art of tent making. Number 48 on our list of the greatest things we make here is The Wedding Tent by Wills Marquees. Co-founder Chris Brawn gives us a tour of their workshop as we learn about the beauty of light cutting through cotton, consider why tent-making is both easy and difficult, and ask whether nice people can succeed in business. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor The Factory Next Door is supported by AVEVA, a leader in industrial intelligence. Sign up to their bi-weekly newsletter about manufacturing here: www.aveva.com/factory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
February 17 · 26 min
47. The Surgical Clamp
When the world’s best surgeons spread a rib cage or clamp a blood vessel, they rely on instruments hammered and filed by skilled hands in a Sheffield workshop. On this week’s The Factory Next Door we head to Platts & Nisbett, manufacturers of surgical instruments for almost half-a-century. Number 47 on our list of the greatest things we make here is The Surgical Clamp. Alyson Nisbett gives us a factory tour as we learn why machines can’t make these instruments, we consider the responsibility that comes with hand-crafting life-saving equipment, and we ponder where a five-inch nail goes in the body. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor The Factory Next Door is supported by AVEVA, a leader in industrial intelligence. Sign up to their bi-weekly newsletter about manufacturing here: www.aveva.com/factory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
February 3 · 32 min
46. The Luxury Lingerie
Smalls are a big market. Annual underwear sales in the UK top £400m. Much of it used to be made domestically (with a thriving cluster in south Wales), but, in the past 15 years, that industry has dramatically shrunk. Today, just a few artisan lingerie companies survive. On this week’s The Factory Next Door, we head to New Tredegar in South Wales to meet Naomi Edmondson, the founder of lingerie company Edge o’ Beyond. Number 46 on our list of the greatest products we make here is The Luxury Lingerie. Naomi gives us a tour of her factory as we chat about the challenges of keeping lingerie manufacturing alive in the Welsh valleys. Plus, we talk about the physical power of beautifully made underwear and being banned from social media. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor The Factory Next Door is supported by AVEVA, a leader in industrial intelligence. Sign up to their bi-weekly newsletter about manufacturing here: www.aveva.com/factory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
January 20 · 29 min
45. The Mechanical Watch
What does it take to make a product so special customers will wait years to get their hands on one? In the world of horology, Rebecca and Craig Struthers have built themselves an enviable reputation using traditional tools and methods to craft extraordinary timepieces. Their watches are so popular the waiting time for one is currently seven years (they are working to bring that down!) Number 45 on our list of the greatest products we make here is The Mechanical Watch by Struthers Watchmakers. On this week’s The Factory Next Door, we visit Leek in Staffordshire to meet the husband-and-wife team who say their journey into horology was an accident. We learn about the joys of vintage lathes, consider why it matters that kids can read analogue watches, and celebrate the humble white piece of A4 paper. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor The Factory Next Door is supported by AVEVA, a leader in industrial intelligence. Sign up to their bi-weekly newsletter about manufacturing here: www.aveva.com/factory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
January 6 · 28 min
44. The Optical Glasses
Every company has a lifespan. Some have two. Over the course of a century, glasses-maker Curry & Paxton went from pioneering new optical instruments, to becoming a key supplier to the NHS, to appearing in iconic movies. Then, in 1987, they vanished. On this week’s The Factory Next Door, we visit the workshop where they are breathing new life into this heritage British brand. Number 44 on our list of the greatest products we make here are The Optical Glasses. Peter Lynes, director at Curry & Paxton tells us why, after a 30-year career working with British clothing brands, he wanted to jump into the world of eyewear and revive this glasses maker. During our factory tour, Peter shares insights into how to build a brand and explains why he now wakes up with a heightened sense of purpose. Also on the show, glasses maker Mila gives thanks to his Grandad and celebrates a machine maker who transformed his life. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor The Factory Next Door is supported by AVEVA, a leader in industrial intelligence. Sign up to their bi-weekly newsletter about manufacturing here: www.aveva.com/factory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 16, 2025 · 31 min
43. The Premium Preserve
The market for jams and preserves might seem… well, jam-packed, but get your recipe right and you’ll find space to grow. Number 43 on our list of the greatest products we make here is The Premium Preserve. On this week’s The Factory Next Door we visit Bristol to meet Nicola Elliott, founder of award-winning jam maker Single Variety Co. Nicola gives us a tour of her expanding factory as she explains why consistency is so hard in jam-making. She also reveals how a cancelled wedding helped transform her business and shares her big dream for the future. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor The Factory Next Door is supported by AVEVA, a leader in industrial intelligence. Sign up to their bi-weekly newsletter about manufacturing here: www.aveva.com/factory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 2, 2025 · 39 min
42. The Mountain Shirt
There are somethings you can’t know about a company until you’ve bought it and had a riffle through the filing cabinets. In the case of clothing maker Buffalo Systems, it was numerous letters of appreciation from special forces, the military, and mountain rescue teams. Number 42 on our list of the greatest products we make here is The Mountain Shirt by Buffalo. Broadcaster and adventurer Ben Fogle and Savile Row tailor James Sleater acquired the Sheffield-based company earlier this year. On this week’s show, they explain why they had always wanted to buy the company. Plus, we also get an exclusive look at a special new product, consider why Britain has so few global luxury brands, and hear why slow growth is sustainable growth. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor The Factory Next Door is supported by AVEVA, a leader in industrial intelligence. Sign up to their bi-weekly newsletter about manufacturing here: www.aveva.com/factory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 18, 2025 · 32 min
41. The China Mug
There’s plenty of reasons to buy a British manufacturer right now. On this week’s episode, artist Susan Rose reveals why she’s just done that – acquiring a pottery in Stoke-on-Trent. We take a tour to learn about getting the thickness of mugs just right, the art of the kiln-stack, and why the random-shake of a cup in water is not always what it seems. We also hear about overcoming dyslexia to build a business, and why a little help from your friends is so often invaluable. Plus, Susan gives thanks for the birds, saves a butterfly, and makes a mug for The Factory Next Door. Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor The Factory Next Door is supported by AVEVA, a leader in industrial intelligence. Sign up to their bi-weekly newsletter about manufacturing here: www.aveva.com/factory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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