As the UK and indeed our industry travels down the Brexit tunnel, there will be a series of risks and opportunities that will present itself to the UK fenestration industry. One of those opportunities I believe will be the allure of windows and doors where materials have been sourced here, and the end product fabricated here.

The “Made In Britain” label will become a powerful one once again, here at home, as the UK hunkers down to make the next couple of years work as best as possible. Part of that will inevitably be a push for consumers to buy all manner of things that have been made here. A national effort, for want of a better phrase.

This presents a unique opportunity for fabricators and installers in this industry. At least for the ones who can boast window and door products that have been made in the UK.

The emotional argument

We will always be proud of the things we produce here. With perhaps the richest manufacturing history on the planet, we will forever have a pride when we buy something produced on these shores. And yes, that pride will come attached to window and door purchases too.

There is an economic argument to this too, which I’ll come on to in a bit. But we’re already seeing economic pressure force some to rethink their supply chains. For example, supermarket chain Morrisons has said that they are currently seeking 200 new British suppliers for their products. Partly in response to the lower value of Sterling, partly due to terrible weather in certain parts of Europe which led to shortages of certain products. But, you can bet your last quid that Morrisons will be making a very big deal about it in their marketing.

The emotional argument behind this is the same emotional argument the window and door market should be making to home owners in the coming years. As more industries will likely move to source more British made products, our own industry should make sure we don’t miss this golden opportunity.

In fairness, some are already making a point about their British manufacturing. Solidor already make a point about the timber in their door slabs being sourced from a sustainable British forest. Residence 9 are proud about their designed and made in the UK heritage. Evolution boast the same credentials. Many artisan hardware companies produce their goods here, and make a big deal of that too.

But we shouldn’t be leaving it just for the manufacturers to get the British point across. Installers who source products from companies like these would be wise to start using the “Made In Britain” tagline as another USP against their competition. It’s going to become useful.

The economic argument

There is a growing economic argument for making more of our windows, doors and the things that go into them, here in the UK. We get a lot of our important fenestration materials from Europe and Asia, and plenty from China. We buy them in three main currencies: the Dollar, the Euro and the Renminbi/Yuan (China’s currency, just in case…). All three have dropped in value since the vote to leave the EU:

Here are all three major currencies versus the Pound over the past year. One guess required where Brexit happens on these charts…

Pound vs Dollar:

Credit: Bloomberg

Pound vs Euro:

Credit: Bloomberg

Pound vs Yuan/Renminbi:

Credit: Google

The reason, up to now, as to why we import so much of what we use in the window and door industry here is that it can be sourced cheaper from elsewhere. Whether bought in Yuan, Dollars or Euros, things like window handles, letter plates, keeps and all other manner of fenestration item could be made cheaper abroad and shipped back here. Great when Sterling is at high levels. But it gives us less control over price. And since we voted to leave the EU, you can see above how all these currencies have fallen a fair bit.

My argument is simple. As Sterling hovers at these lows, the financial advantage is being whittled away. Sterlin may drop further before it recovers, which would trade away even more financial advantage. These charts prove that there is a growing argument to make even more of our fenestration products here.

We would have more control over our costs, being less exposed to big currency swings. We would create more manufacturing jobs, something we’re going to have to do as an industry and nation if Theresa May really wants us to be a global Britain. It would provide a direct boost to GDP and the local areas where any potential new jobs and factories are based.

I also believe that the things we make here are better than the things we import from China and other places around the world. I know inflation is rising and wages are only crawling up instead of booming upwards. But, I do believe that home owners here will be prepared to pay a little bit more for their windows and doors if they know that the vast majority of what has gone into them has been made here. It plays to that emotional purchase, the pride in buying something British. I think it could work.

The next two years are going to be a roller-coaster of a journey. But one thing we can almost guarantee ourselves is the “Made In Britain” message will be wheeled out in a big way to help boost our economy. It would be wise of UK fenestration to be part of that chorus too.