Made In Sheffield
Made In Sheffield is a trademark licensing initiative that licenses the use of the legally protected 'Made In Sheffield' mark to over 300 qualifying manufacturers in the Sheffield City Region, generating revenue through a £200 biennial license fee while promoting manufacturing heritage and quality.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersSheffield, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Made In Sheffield does
Made In Sheffield is a private sector-led trademark licensing initiative established in its modern form in 2000, with heritage dating to Sheffield's cutlery industry from 1297 and the formal establishment of the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire in 1624. The organization licenses the use of the protected 'Made In Sheffield' mark to qualifying manufacturers located within the Sheffield City Region (the 'S' postcode area, broadly consistent with the historical county of Hallamshire, encompassing Sheffield, Barnsley, Rotherham, and parts of Chesterfield, Doncaster, and Worksop). The mark is registered with the UK Patent Office under British Design Application No. 3021457 and is the only UK city name legally protected as a trademark, providing enforceable protection against misuse by non-local manufacturers.
The organization operates five core products: the trademark license itself (the core product), a searchable Licence Holder Database of over 300 manufacturers, an annual Manufacturing Capability Index PDF, the annual Made in Sheffield Awards program, and the newly launching (October 2025) Made in Sheffield Academy in partnership with The Sheffield College Advanced Technology Centre. Governance is provided by a Steering Committee chaired by Charles Turner MBE DL, with representatives from the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire, Sheffield City Council, Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, AMRC/University of Sheffield, and licensed manufacturers.
Revenue is generated through a flat £200 fee for a 2-year license, with all income retained in a dedicated bank account for the sole purpose of promoting the Made In Sheffield mark. The organization is not a commercial enterprise in the conventional sense and is not backed by venture capital or private equity. It is supported by category sponsors across financial services (HSBC UK, Barclays, BHP), legal (DLA Piper, Freeths), insurance (AON), recruitment (Elevation Recruitment Group), and manufacturing innovation (Made Smarter, AMRC). The customer base is a long-tail of 300+ manufacturers across diverse sectors including steel, cutlery, aerospace, precision engineering, food and drink, and creative industries.
Made In Sheffield firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Made In Sheffield
- Legal name
- Made in Sheffield
- Website
- https://madeinsheffield.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Made In Sheffield is a trademark licensing initiative that licenses the use of the legally protected 'Made In Sheffield' mark to over 300 qualifying manufacturers in the Sheffield City Region, generating revenue through a £200 biennial license fee while promoting manufacturing heritage and quality.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Made In Sheffield industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Trademark Licensing Services
- SIC
- Patent Owners & Lessors (6794)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Geographic Indication & Origin/Authenticity Certification (PDO/PGI, Country-of-Origin) (AFALAMAJ)
Keywords
Where Made In Sheffield is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sheffield
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Made In Sheffield business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others
Revenue model
- Trademark Licensing: The organization generates revenue through licensing fees for the Made In Sheffield mark. Companies pay a £200 fee to obtain a 2-year license to use the trademark on their products and marketing materials.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Standard 2-year license for use of the Made In Sheffield mark |
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Made In Sheffield product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Made In Sheffield licences the protected "Made in Sheffield" trademark to qualifying manufacturers located within the Sheffield City Region ('S' postcode area). Manufacturers pay a £200 fee for a two-year licence to display the mark on their products and marketing materials, signalling quality, heritage, and Sheffield origin. The organisation supplements the licence with a licence holder database, an annual Manufacturing Capability Index PDF publication, and an awards programme.
Product overview
Made in Sheffield is a private-sector-led trademark and brand initiative that licenses the use of the protected 'Made in Sheffield' mark to qualifying manufacturers in the Sheffield City Region. The organization operates a licence holder database containing over 300 companies, publishes an annual Manufacturing Capability Index PDF, runs the Made in Sheffield Awards program, and partners with educational institutions including the Made in Sheffield Academy at The Sheffield College. The core offering is the trademark license itself, which grants manufacturers the right to use the internationally recognized brand on their products, reinforcing quality and origin.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Made in Sheffield Mark Licence A two-year trademark licence (British Design Application No. 3021457) that allows qualifying manufacturers in the Sheffield 'S' postcode area to display the protected "Made in Sheffield" mark on their products and marketing materials, signalling quality, heritage, and Sheffield origin.
- Manufacturing Capability Index An annual PDF publication that catalogues the manufacturing capabilities of licensed Made in Sheffield companies, organised by sector and company, showcasing advanced manufacturing, heritage products and innovation to buyers and the wider public.
- Made in Sheffield Awards An annual awards programme celebrating excellence, innovation and leadership among South Yorkshire manufacturers, held at Cutlers' Hall with category sponsors including HSBC UK, BHP, AON, Freeths, Made Smarter and Elevation Recruitment Group.
- Made in Sheffield Academy An education and skills partnership with The Sheffield College Advanced Technology Centre providing students with industry engagement, work experience and manufacturing career pathways.
Companies that use Made In Sheffield
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Made In Sheffield technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Made In Sheffield partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- The Company of Cutlers in HallamshirecoreHistoric trade guild and livery company representing and supporting manufacturing industries of Sheffield. Provides governance for the Made In Sheffield initiative, with the Master Cutler serving on the committee. Hosts annual awards dinner at Cutlers' Hall.
- Sheffield City CouncilcoreLocal authority responsible for governing and delivering public services in Sheffield. Partners to promote manufacturing excellence and economic growth in the region.
- Sheffield Chamber of CommercecoreSupports, connects, and represents businesses across the Sheffield region. Collaborates on initiatives and monitors regulatory changes affecting manufacturers.
- Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of CommercecoreSupports and represents businesses across Barnsley and Rotherham, extending the Made In Sheffield initiative beyond Sheffield city boundaries.
- AMRC / University of SheffieldmajorAdvanced Manufacturing Research Centre provides innovation support and training. Sponsors the Manufacturing Innovation Award at the Made in Sheffield Awards.
- AONmajorRisk and insurance firm, sponsor of the Made in Sheffield Awards, providing category sponsorship.
- BHPmajorAccountancy firm, sponsor of Manufacturer of the Year Award at the Made in Sheffield Awards.
- HSBC UKmajorBanking partner, sponsor of Export Award at the Made in Sheffield Awards.
- Brand NorthmajorWebsite design and build partner for madeinsheffield.org. Committee member representation.
- Elevation Recruitment GroupmajorRecruitment firm, sponsor of Apprentice of the Year Award at the Made in Sheffield Awards.
- Forged Solutions GroupmajorManufacturing company and awards dinner sponsor, representing the manufacturing community.
- FreethsmajorLaw firm, sponsor of Sustainable/Ethical Manufacturer Award at the Made in Sheffield Awards.
- Made SmartermajorManufacturing digitization initiative, sponsor of Food & Drink Award at the Made in Sheffield Awards.
- Sheffield Hallam UniversityminorUniversity partner supporting manufacturing education and skills development in the region.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Made In Sheffield competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Scotch Whisky Association: Trade body that protects the 'Scotch Whisky' geographic indication globally. Comparable as a legally protected regional/heritage certification body with industry self-governance and brand protection functions.
- Made in Britain: UK-wide membership organisation that licenses a 'Made in Britain' origin mark to British manufacturers. Closest functional peer — same revenue model (annual license fees), same purpose (geographic origin certification), same geographic constraint (British origin required).
- Consorzio Parmigiano Reggiano: PDO consortium that licenses the Parmigiano-Reggiano mark to certified producers. Directly comparable model: producer-funded consortium, legally protected regional designation, fee-based licensing, and quality enforcement.
- Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne (CIVC): Industry body that defends and promotes the Champagne appellation. Directly comparable as a geographic-indication/PDO certification and licensing body with a legally protected regional name, mirroring Made In Sheffield's structure.
- Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FHS): Administers the 'Swiss Made' hallmark for watches. Operates a legally protected origin mark for a specific regional industry — a near-perfect functional analogue to Made In Sheffield's quality/origin licensing for Sheffield manufacturing.
Broad incumbents
- British Standards Institution (BSI): UK's national standards body issuing Kitemark certifications. Comparable as a quality certification licensor, but operates at national scale and across many industries rather than a single regional/manufacturing niche.
- Italian Trade Agency (Made in Italy): Government-backed initiative promoting the 'Made in Italy' mark globally. Comparable as a state-backed geographic-origin certification programme, but at national scale and with public funding rather than a self-funded licensing model.
Others
- UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO): UK government body that registers and enforces trademarks and designs. Comparable as the regulator that enforces the legal protections underpinning Made In Sheffield's mark, but does not itself license origin marks.
Regional players
- Sheffield Assay Office: UK hallmarking authority co-located with the Cutlers' Hall. Comparable as a Sheffield-based quality/certification authority using a legally protected mark, but operates under statute rather than a private licensing model.
Emerging players
- Yorkshire Made: UK county-level origin certification brand for Yorkshire-based producers. Comparable regional-origin mark with similar membership-based licensing model, but operating at a broader county level rather than a specific city.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Made In Sheffield social profiles
Digital presenceMade In Sheffield compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Made In Sheffield financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Made In Sheffield leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
Made In Sheffield funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Made In Sheffield M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Made In Sheffield
What does Made In Sheffield do?
Made In Sheffield licences the protected "Made in Sheffield" trademark to qualifying manufacturers located within the Sheffield City Region ('S' postcode area). Manufacturers pay a £200 fee for a two-year licence to display the mark on their products and marketing materials, signalling quality, heritage, and Sheffield origin. The organisation supplements the licence with a licence holder database, an annual Manufacturing Capability Index PDF publication, and an awards programme.
Is Made In Sheffield a public or private company?
Made In Sheffield is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Made In Sheffield founded?
Made In Sheffield was founded in 2000. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Made In Sheffield based?
Made In Sheffield is headquartered in Sheffield, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Made In Sheffield make money?
One revenue line is on record: trademark Licensing.
Who are Made In Sheffield's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Scotch Whisky Association, Made in Britain, Consorzio Parmigiano Reggiano, Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne (CIVC) and Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FHS). Broad incumbents are British Standards Institution (BSI) and Italian Trade Agency (Made in Italy). UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) is listed as an others. Sheffield Assay Office is listed as a regional player. Yorkshire Made is listed as an emerging player.
Does Made In Sheffield have an API?
No public API is recorded for Made In Sheffield.
What industry is Made In Sheffield in?
Made In Sheffield's product category is Trademark Licensing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFALAMAJ, Geographic Indication & Origin/Authenticity Certification (PDO/PGI, Country-of-Origin). Its SIC code is 6794.