Ahead of Party Conferences, Karim Fatehi MBE visited LCCI member Thompsons UK Limited, a manufacturing business based in Croydon. The UK is a key player in the manufacturing industry – recently becoming the 8th largest manufacturing nation in the world. The sector contributes £224 million to the UK economy and employs over 2.6 million people in the UK. 

Thompsons UK is a fantastic example of a London-grown business driving growth – having started out in the 70s as a small operation, the company now has several sites across the UK and employs around 250 people. We had the pleasure of meeting with Joint Managing Director Scott Burton to discuss the history of the business and explore some of the most pressing issues facing the manufacturing industry today.

Our conversation covered a range of topics, from the challenges of operating costs and business rates to the effects of the current skills shortage, and the potential solutions that could help address these issues. We also talked about Thompsons' commitment to the local area, having recently invested in its growth in Croydon. 

As the new Government develops a plan for growth, it should look to businesses like Thompsons UK as an example.