A surge in AI in UK manufacturing? Can new tech build a future on Britain's industrial legacy?
Manufacturing continues to be one of the UK’s most important economic sectors. It already contributes around £220 billion of output annually, accounting for 42% of UK exports, almost half of all business R&D expenditure, and supports approximately 2.6 million jobs across the country. Now, new British PM Andy Burnham has made re-industrializing Britain and strengthening manufacturing a central pillar of the government’s agenda.
Consequently, the most recent edition of the twice-yearly Manufacturing Outlook report by audit, tax, advisory and consulting firm Crowe (in association with The CBM) makes for interesting reading as it finds that active use of AI has grown by 28% in the sector since 2025.
AI is seen as manufacturing’s little helper for familiar challenges
The latest survey was conducted in June and July 2026 and its findings suggest that UK manufacturers are increasingly focusing on future opportunity rather than simply responding to disruption. More than three-quarters...
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