The Manufacturer

What The Manufacturer does

The Manufacturer is a B2B media and events company serving the UK manufacturing sector, operated by Hennik Group Limited within the Nineteen Group portfolio. Its core products include the digital publishing platform themanufacturer.com (news, articles, case studies, podcasts, videos, webinars across channels such as Automation, Digitalisation, Data & AI, Innovation, Leadership, Skills, Supply Chain, and Sustainability), UK and North American email newsletters, and an Industry Directory spanning 25+ manufacturing sectors. The company runs flagship events — most prominently Smart Manufacturing Week at NEC Birmingham, which attracted approximately 13,000 attendees in 2025 and 136+ new and 250+ returning exhibitors in 2026 — along with the Manufacturing Leaders' Summit, the Manufacturing Supply Chain & Inventory Forum, the MX Awards, and the Top 100 Awards. A North American digital briefing and the upcoming Smart Manufacturing Week US (Detroit, April 19-22, 2027) signal active geographic expansion.

The business model is a hybrid B2B media model with five revenue streams: digital subscriptions (recurring, quote-based for enterprise clients), event sponsorships and exhibition fees, digital advertising and sponsored content, awards entry and ceremony revenue, and one-time licensing of reports and whitepapers (e.g., the HSO Industrial Agility Assessment, UK Manufacturing Statistics reports). GTM is event-driven and content-led, combining high-frequency editorial output, newsletters, multimedia, awards programmes, and large trade exhibitions to build audience and convert manufacturers, technology suppliers, and procurement teams into advertisers, sponsors, and subscribers. The company is privately held with no public listing or external institutional investment identified, operates a London headquarters and a Detroit regional HQ, and employs 11–50 people.

Name

The Manufacturer

Legal name

Hennik Group Limited

Website

https://themanufacturer.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Manufacturer is a UK-based B2B media and events company covering the manufacturing sector through digital publishing, newsletters, awards programmes, and flagship events such as Smart Manufacturing Week, targeting manufacturing professionals, technology suppliers, and enterprise advertisers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

B2B Manufacturing Trade Media and Events

NAICS

Manufacturing (31-33), Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (333310), Machinery Manufacturing (333)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550), Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559), Wholesale-Industrial Machinery & Equipment (5084)

akta.pro primary industry

Body Panels, Doors, Hoods & Closures Manufacturing (IMACAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty Vehicle Body Manufacturing (Emergency/Military/Mobile Clinics) (IMACAGAD), Bus Body & Coachbuilder / Bus Body Assembly (IMACADAH)

Keywords

• Manufacturing industry news
• B2B trade media
• Manufacturing trade events
• Industry awards programmes
• Manufacturing digital publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Subscription Services: Digital subscriptions providing access to premium content, reports, whitepapers, and exclusive industry intelligence for manufacturing professionals
2. Event Sponsorships & Exhibition: Revenue from exhibitors and sponsors at flagship events including Smart Manufacturing Week and Manufacturing Leaders' Summit
3. Advertising & Display: Digital advertising placements on website, newsletters, and multimedia content including banner ads and sponsored content
4. Awards & Recognition Programs: The Manufacturer MX Awards and Top 100 Awards generate revenue through award entries, ceremony attendance, and associated sponsorship opportunities
5. Reports & Whitepapers: Industry research reports, statistical compilations, and whitepapers on UK manufacturing statistics, trends, and best practices

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Manufacturer is a B2B media and events company serving the UK manufacturing sector through a digital publishing platform delivering daily manufacturing news, articles, case studies, videos, podcasts, and industry reports across topics such as automation, digitalization, AI, sustainability, leadership, and supply chain. It monetizes through advertising, content subscriptions, and operates flagship annual events including Smart Manufacturing Week at NEC Birmingham and the Manufacturer MX Awards gala, with a planned expansion to Detroit for Smart Manufacturing Week US in April 2027.

Product overview

The Manufacturer is a comprehensive B2B media and events company serving the UK and international manufacturing sector. The company operates a multi-platform approach combining digital news publishing (The Manufacturer Digital Platform), major annual events (Smart Manufacturing Week UK and US), award programmes (The Manufacturer MX Awards, Top 100 Awards), newsletters (Digital Briefings for UK and North America), industry research (Reports and Whitepapers), and print/online publications (Magazine, Webinars, Videos, Podcasts). The portfolio is anchored by Smart Manufacturing Week UK (the flagship annual event at NEC Birmingham) and the MX Awards (annual gala ceremony), supported by ongoing content channels covering Automation, Digitalisation, Data & AI, Innovation, Leadership, Skills, Supply Chain, and Sustainability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Smart Manufacturing Week: Annual manufacturing event produced by The Manufacturer featuring exhibitions and conferences on digital manufacturing, IoT, automation, reliability, and asset management.
• The Manufacturer MX Awards
• The Manufacturer Top 100 Awards
• Manufacturing Leaders' Summit

Products and services

• Smart Manufacturing Week UK Annual manufacturing trade show at NEC Birmingham featuring exhibitions, conferences, and solution theatres covering digital manufacturing, automation, and industrial technology. The 2026 edition includes the SMMT Meet the Buyer programme, Student STEM Programme, Ambassador Programme, and Reliabilityweb Certified Reliability Leader programme, attracting approximately 13,000 attendees and 386+ exhibitors (136+ new and 250+ returning).
• Smart Manufacturing Week US Newly launched North American manufacturing trade event scheduled for April 19-22, 2027, in Detroit, Michigan, featuring exhibitions and conferences focused on digital manufacturing, IoT, automation, reliability, and asset management, designed to expand The Manufacturer's footprint into the North American manufacturing market.
• The Manufacturer Digital Platform Online B2B news portal providing daily manufacturing news, feature articles, case studies, and industry coverage across channels including Automation, Digitalisation, Data & AI, Innovation, Leadership, Skills, Supply Chain, and Sustainability, with premium subscriber access to exclusive content, reports, and whitepapers for manufacturing professionals.
• The Manufacturer MX Awards Annual awards ceremony and gala dinner recognizing excellence in UK manufacturing, with multiple award categories including Sustainable Manufacturing and Young Manufacturer. The 2026 edition entries are open with the ceremony scheduled for July 16, 2026, generating revenue through award entries, ceremony attendance, and associated sponsorship opportunities.
• The Manufacturer Top 100 Awards Annual awards programme recognising the leading UK manufacturers, including a nomination process, digital publication highlighting winners, and awards ceremony. Designed to celebrate and promote best-in-class UK manufacturing companies.
• The Manufacturer Digital Briefings Regional email newsletters serving UK and North American audiences with curated daily manufacturing news, industry stories, and event updates. Includes the Daily Manufacturing News Digest and the North American Digital Briefing, delivering targeted industry content directly to manufacturing professionals' inboxes.
• Manufacturing Supply Chain & Inventory Forum Forum event scheduled for September 24, 2026, focusing on manufacturing supply chain challenges, inventory management strategies, and best practices for UK manufacturers managing supply chain resilience and disruption.
• Manufacturing Leaders' Summit Annual summit scheduled for November 10-11, 2026, for manufacturing executives and senior leaders, covering strategic leadership, industry trends, digital transformation strategy, and peer networking at senior manufacturing leadership level.
• Industry Directory Comprehensive online B2B directory connecting manufacturers with suppliers, service providers, and industry contacts across 25+ manufacturing sectors, enabling supplier discovery and partnership formation within the UK manufacturing ecosystem.
• Reports and Whitepapers Industry research reports, statistical compilations, and whitepapers covering UK manufacturing statistics, sector trends, digital transformation benchmarks, Industrial Agility Assessments (produced in partnership with HSO), and best practices, available for purchase or licensed access.
• The Manufacturer Magazine Print magazine covering manufacturing industry news, features, in-depth analysis, and editorial content for UK manufacturers, distributed as part of the brand's multi-channel content portfolio alongside digital publishing.

Quantifiable outcome

• Smart Manufacturing Week 2025 attracted approximately 13,000 attendees
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Detroit Metropolitan AreaminorOthers · 19 April 2027Smart Manufacturing Week US expansion to Detroit, Michigan scheduled for April 19-22, 2027, focusing on digital manufacturing, IoT, automation, reliability, and asset management sectors in North American manufacturing hub.
• SMMTcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2026SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders) partners with Smart Manufacturing Week to deliver the Meet the Buyer programme, connecting automotive supply chain buyers with exhibitors and facilitating business development opportunities at the annual event.
• ReliabilitywebminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2026Reliabilityweb partners with Smart Manufacturing Week to deliver the Certified Reliability Leader programme, providing professional certification and training for manufacturing reliability professionals at the annual event.
• Nineteen GroupcoreOthers · 3 June 2026The Manufacturer is part of Nineteen Group, a UK-based events and publishing company operating multiple B2B media brands across manufacturing, engineering, and industrial sectors. Nineteen Group provides operational infrastructure, group companies include Hennik Group Limited, Broden Media Limited, and various trade show organizers.
• Hennik GroupcoreOthersHennik Group is the parent company of The Manufacturer, providing corporate governance and group-level services. Hennik Research Limited and other Hennik entities operate within the Nineteen Group corporate structure.
• Made Smarter UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMade Smarter UK government-funded initiative regularly featured in The Manufacturer's coverage of digital transformation, providing digital roadmaps, leadership training, workforce development support, and match-funded technology grants up to £20,000 for SME manufacturers.
• HSOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHSO partners with The Manufacturer on the annual Industrial Agility Assessment, providing research and insights on UK manufacturing digital transformation trends, agility metrics, and sector performance benchmarks.
• University of PortsmouthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity provides students for Made Smarter digital internship programme placements with manufacturing SMEs, supporting ERP implementation, AI development, and digital transformation projects featured in The Manufacturer's coverage.
• University of SouthamptonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity supplies graduate talent for Made Smarter digital internship placements, including projects supporting sustainable construction manufacturer Ecologic Developments with digital design-to-production workflow development.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Control Engineering: B2B media covering industrial control, instrumentation, and automation systems. Comparable in editorial focus on automation, control systems, and digital transformation content for manufacturing engineers.
• Plastics News (Crain Communications): B2B media brand covering plastics manufacturing with newsletters, rankings, and events. Comparable as a vertical manufacturing trade publication combining digital publishing with industry awards and rankings.
• Plant Engineering: B2B media brand for plant managers and manufacturing operations leaders covering maintenance, reliability, automation, and safety. Comparable in targeting UK/global manufacturing operations audiences and combining digital content with industry research.
• Manufacturing Global: Digital B2B publication covering global manufacturing industry news, technology, and leadership. Comparable in digital-first B2B media model targeting manufacturing executives across multiple geographies.
• IndustryWeek: Flagship US B2B media brand for manufacturing executives, covering operations, leadership, technology, and digital transformation. Closely comparable in audience (manufacturing leaders), editorial pillars (Automation, AI, Leadership), and digital-first publishing model.
• Automation World: B2B media brand focused on industrial automation, motion control, and control systems. Highly comparable in editorial coverage (Automation, Data & AI channels) and target audience of manufacturing technology buyers and engineers.
• Thomas Publishing / ThomasNet: Long-established B2B media and industrial sourcing platform connecting manufacturers with suppliers in North America. Directly comparable in combining digital directory, content publishing, and supplier discovery for industrial buyers.
• Modern Machine Shop: B2B media serving metalworking and CNC machining professionals with editorial content, webinars, and industry events. Comparable in covering machine tools, metalworking, and digital manufacturing topics for production engineers.

Broad incumbents

• Informa Markets (Industrial Division): Major B2B events and media group operating industrial/manufacturing trade shows (e.g., through various acquired brands). Comparable as a scaled competitor organizing large industrial exhibitions alongside digital publishing properties.
• Hannover Messe (Deutsche Messe): World's leading industrial trade fair organizer running flagship Hannover Messe and expanded US events. Comparable as a large-scale industrial event competitor, particularly relevant for Smart Manufacturing Week US entry into the same market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TheManufacturer
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheManufacturerMagazine

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about The Manufacturer