A centuries-old craft on the coronary heart of British manufacturing is below mounting strain to navigate advanced international buying and selling obstacles, as recent information reveals that 80% of UK-produced saddles are shipped abroad—notably to the USA, Europe and Australia.
Regardless of the status and worldwide regard for British leatherworking, trade leaders warn that post-Brexit laws, export financing, and logistical challenges are constraining additional development.
The Worshipful Firm of Saddlers, which has championed UK saddlery because the twelfth century, spotlighted these points earlier this month at its annual Showcase of British saddlery and leather-based items within the Metropolis of London. Operating alongside the Society of Grasp Saddlers Nationwide Saddlery Competitors, the occasion introduced collectively officers from the Division for Enterprise and Commerce, the Chartered Institute for Export and Worldwide Commerce, and Made in Britain to debate methods for overcoming limitations.
Philip Napier, Clerk to the Worshipful Firm of Saddlers, stated: “The Saddlers’ Firm was delighted to welcome the Made in Britain staff. This was the right place to admire the unimaginable craftsmanship of British saddlers and leatherworkers.
“Over the last few years, those in the trade have shared concerns about export finance, a growing pile of paperwork, Brexit complications, and even insurance issues once products leave the UK. That’s why it was so encouraging to have addresses from John Pearce at Made in Britain and representatives from the Department for Business and Trade and the Chartered Institute for Export and International Trade. A number of major saddlery firms from Walsall and beyond have already adopted the Made in Britain mark, with more keen to follow.”
John Pearce, Chief Government of Made in Britain, underscored the worth of a unified strategy: “The saddlery industry showcases British manufacturing at its finest—combining heritage, craftsmanship, and world-class innovation. Overseas interest in this craft remains high, and the Made in Britain mark bolsters credibility in key markets like the USA, Germany, France, and Scandinavia.”
Saddlery specialists emphasised that scale calls for international commerce. Cath Pagnillo-Gordon, Managing Director of Albion Saddlemakers Co Ltd, stated: “British saddlery alone isn’t enough to sustain larger companies—they must export. The more saddlers who use the Made in Britain mark, the stronger its credibility and the greater the cohesion on the international stage.”
Nonetheless, corporations say they’ve confronted a tougher atmosphere in Europe since Brexit, and lots of rely closely on analysis to make sure their merchandise meet the very best requirements of consolation and welfare for horse and rider.
Trade insiders now urge nearer cooperation between authorities our bodies, commerce associations, and producers to clear export bottlenecks and safe the sector’s long-term survival. By the collective drive championed by the Worshipful Firm of Saddlers and Made in Britain, the hope is that one in all Britain’s oldest trades can proceed to thrive regardless of present uncertainties.
