Make UK

What Make UK does

Make UK (legal entity: EEF Ltd) is the UK's primary manufacturing industry trade association and employers' body, founded in 1896 as the Engineering Employers' Federation and rebranded to Make UK in 2020. Operating as a company limited by guarantee regulated under Part II of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, Make UK directly represents 5,000+ member companies and collectively represents approximately 20,000 firms across engineering, manufacturing, technology, and the wider industrial sector, ranging from startups to multinationals. The organization is headquartered in London (Broadway House, Tothill Street, Westminster) with offices in Brussels, Birmingham Technology Hub, and every English region and Wales. Sub-brands include UK Steel, Make UK Defence, Make Venues, Electrify Industry, Make:Modular, and Make UK Apprenticeships.

Make UK operates a tiered membership model — Essentials from £995/year, Enhanced from £5,000/year, and bespoke Add-ons — paired with a multi-service portfolio covering Employment Law & HR advisory, Environment Health & Safety (with NEBOSH, IOSH, IEMA/ISEP accredited training), Net Zero advisory, Productivity Improvement, EU Hub trade compliance, and apprenticeships delivered at the Birmingham Technology Hub. Revenue is supplemented by EHS consultancy subscriptions (£150-£245/month), paid training courses (£625-£1,499), venue hire, and member benefit partnerships (energy procurement via Inspired, insurance via Howden, R&D funding via ABGi, talent acquisition via STR Group, health benefits via Westfield Health, employee benefits via Caboodle). The Technology Hub in Birmingham delivers residential apprenticeships and technical training with a stated 90% retention rate.

Go-to-market is sales-led, leveraging regional advisory boards, direct senior account management, and a multi-channel marketing footprint (website, LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Trustpilot, Force24 email). Member engagement is anchored by flagship events including the National Manufacturing Conference, National Manufacturing Day, the Defence Summit 2026, the National Manufacturing Awards, and the MACH 2026 exhibition at NEC Birmingham. The organization is not a technology company: it does not operate a public API, has no proprietary AI models, and competes on regulatory standing, regional distribution, sector expertise, and member network scale rather than on software or data products.

Name

Make UK

Legal name

EEF Ltd

Website

https://makeuk.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1896

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Make UK is the UK's primary manufacturing trade association (founded 1896, legal entity EEF Ltd), serving 5,000+ direct member companies across engineering, manufacturing, and technology via a tiered membership model plus advisory, training, apprenticeship, EHS, and policy advocacy services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Manufacturing Trade Association Services

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce Development & Inclusive Employment (Job Training, Placement) (BPAGALAB)

Keywords

• Manufacturing trade association
• Industry membership services
• Workforce training apprenticeships
• Health safety consultancy
• Industrial policy advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership fees across three tiers: Essentials from £995/year for basic access, Enhanced from £5,000/year for senior team access and high-profile events, and Add-ons for unparalleled influence and access to strategic counsel.
2. Training and Apprenticeship Services: Technical training courses, residential apprenticeships, and professional development programs delivered at the Technology Hub in Birmingham and through employer partnerships.
3. EHS Consultancy Services: Environment, Health and Safety consulting including interim staffing, subscription packages from £150/month, and bespoke training solutions.
4. Venue Hire: Conference and event facilities at the Technology Hub available at competitive prices for member and non-member organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Make UK is the representative voice of UK manufacturing, operating as a membership-based trade association and employers' association (legally EEF Ltd). It delivers tiered membership subscriptions (Essentials, Enhanced, Add-ons), advisory services (employment law & HR, environment/health & safety, net zero, productivity, EU trade), accredited training and apprenticeships delivered at its Birmingham Technology Hub, and policy advocacy representing the sector to government.

Product overview

Make UK is the UK's primary manufacturing industry association and membership organization (trading as EEF Ltd), representing approximately 20,000 companies. The organization offers a multi-tiered membership model (Essentials, Enhanced, Add-ons) providing access to advisory services, training, and industry advocacy. Core service modules include Employment Law & HR Services, Environment Health & Safety Services (with accredited NEBOSH/IOSH/ISEP training), Net Zero Hub, Training & Development (including apprenticeships), Productivity Improvement, and EU Hub. Make UK operates specialist divisions including UK Steel (steel industry trade association), Make UK Defence (defence manufacturers advocacy), and Make Venues (event spaces). Member benefits include energy procurement (Inspired), insurance (Howden), R&D funding (ABGi), talent acquisition (STR Group), and health wellbeing (Westfield Health). The organization hosts major events including MACH exhibition, National Manufacturing Conference, and National Manufacturing Awards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UK Steel: Trade association for the UK's steel industry representing the sector's interests to the government
• Make UK Defence
• Make Venues
• Electrify Industry
• Make:Modular
• Make UK Apprenticeships

Products and services

• Make UK Membership Tiered annual membership for UK manufacturers providing access to advisory services, networking, events, policy advocacy, and account management. Three tiers: Essentials (from £995/year), Enhanced (from £5,000/year), and Add-ons for premium strategic counsel.
• Employment Law & HR Services Advisory services helping manufacturers with employment law compliance, workforce management, and employment relations.
• Environment, Health & Safety Services Comprehensive EHS training, consultancy, and management services including NEBOSH, IOSH, and ISEP accredited courses, interim staff support, and subscription packages for ongoing compliance.
• Net Zero Hub Sustainability and decarbonization advisory services helping manufacturers navigate the transition to net zero, including energy efficiency guidance and carbon management.
• Apprenticeship Services End-to-end apprenticeship programs including recruitment, training delivery at the Technology Hub, residential options, and pathways in engineering, manufacturing, and technical roles. Features a 90% retention rate.
• Productivity Improvement Services Advisory services helping manufacturers improve operational efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance productivity through process optimization.
• EU Hub Brexit-related advisory services and guidance helping manufacturers navigate regulatory changes affecting UK-EU trade and supply chains.
• Make UK Defence Specialist division championing UK defence and security manufacturers, offering subscription services (Level 1-3) with networking, intelligence, and business development support.
• UK Steel Division of Make UK representing the interests of UK steel producers, providing trade association services, policy advocacy, and industry representation.
• Make Venues Conference and event venue hire across three UK locations, offering meeting spaces from small teams to large conferences at competitive member rates.
• Technology Hub State-of-the-art training facility in Birmingham offering conference spaces and technical training environments for apprentices and industry events.

Quantifiable outcome

• UK manufacturing contributes £217bn in output and supports 2.6m jobs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Canada Manufacturers & Exporters (CME)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 November 2025Bilateral manufacturing alliance agreement signed in Ottawa to strengthen economic cooperation in critical sectors including rare earth minerals, nuclear technology, artificial intelligence, and defence. Aims to boost bilateral trade currently worth £6.5 billion annually between the two nations. Together, the two organizations represent approximately 120,000 businesses across the UK and Canada.
• JBC Skills TrainingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to give employers access to a broader, future-focused apprenticeship portfolio spanning engineering, manufacturing, digital data, AI, productivity tools, and emerging technologies.
• InspiredcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMember Benefits partner - UK's leading commercial energy and sustainability advisor. Helps manufacturers control energy costs, reduce carbon, achieve net zero, and make ESG disclosures. Ranked UK's number one advisor by Cornwall Insight since 2018.
• HowdencoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMember Benefits partner since 2007 - specialist insurance broker providing tailored insurance solutions for manufacturing businesses. Offers preferential rates, policy enhancements, and risk management support.
• Westfield HealthcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMember Benefits partner - wellbeing organization with over 100 years experience. Supports manufacturers with Foresight Plan designed specifically for Make UK members, covering 400,000+ customers and 8,000 companies.
• CaboodlecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMember Benefits partner (formerly Caboodle Technology) - employee benefits and engagement software platform supporting organizations with salary sacrifice schemes, employee discounts, and benefits administration.
• STR GroupcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMember Benefits partner - voice of UK manufacturing recruitment and staffing solutions. Insignis division recruits for C-Suite, managerial and technical roles across aerospace, automotive, electronics, energy, and technology sectors.
• ABGicoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMember Benefits partner - leading Innovation Funding Advisor providing R&D tax credits, Patent Box, grant funding, and enquiry defence services to maximize innovation claims for manufacturers.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Market position

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/makeuk_
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCm3pqFpO-mXp-gT9MCVJnqA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/makeuk

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Make UK