Our specialist manufacturing media relations team has loads of experience working with media outlets that write about the latest manufacturing trends. The manufacturing industry is (still) going through a digital transformation frenzy, with newer trends like advanced AI, 5G in industrial operations, next-gen robotics, sustainability and circular economy models, continued developments in IoT, predictive maintenance and ERP systems, impacting the sector.
With that in mind, here’s our rundown of the UK’s top manufacturing publications, how you can work with them, and journalists you should follow.
The Manufacturer
The Manufacturer continues to be a trusted source of news, features, events and insights for all manufacturing sectors. A resource for boardrooms and senior management, it delivers thought leadership articles, regulatory updates and best practice case studies. Keep an eye on its digital content, as well as deep dives into everything from recruitment to sustainability and supply chains in the monthly magazine.
We also recommend looking into ‘The Manufacturer Podcast’, where industry leaders have the chance to provide their expertise on various industry-related topics. If you’re interested in featuring on the podcast, contact multimedia editor Tom St. John.
To pitch to The Manufacturer, email the editor, Joe Bush, copying in the editorial team. Ensure your story aligns with their focus areas: leadership, innovation, industrial data, AI, digital transformation, automation, workforce development and sustainability.
Manufacturing Management
Manufacturing Management celebrates the best of UK manufacturing and the management teams who make our factories international leaders. It offers best practice advice to manufacturing businesses, concentrating on improving productivity and profitability through content that covers best practices, thought leadership and industry insights.
From lean management techniques to maintenance via the impending fourth industrial revolution, it’s targeted at directors and managers in charge of the UK’s world-class manufacturing sites.
As well as online articles, it has a monthly magazine all about technological innovation, news and the latest developments in the domestic manufacturing sector.
When pitching to editor, Paul Fanning, think lean management tricks, the nuts and bolts of maintenance, and the fourth industrial revolution.
UK Manufacturing
UK Manufacturing updates daily online content and has a quarterly, digital-only publication distributed to key decision-makers across the UK. It offers the latest product developments and news, supported by in-depth articles and comments from key players in manufacturing and processing. It is also complemented by the ‘Connecting Industry’ online portal, where you can find news and expert analysis from energy and electrics to processes, equipment and manufacturing and automation.
It’s mainly geared towards engineers, managers and senior executives who are interested in products and equipment that boost manufacturing efficiency and profitability, so keep this in mind when pitching a story.
If you have something to say, the best person to contact is the widely respected and responsive editor, Victoria White.
Food Manufacture
Food Manufacture is the go-to read for those in the food and drink sector (which is the biggest in UK manufacturing). The solely online platform covers the latest business and tech news, commentary and analysis, interviews, inside looks at top factories and the lowdown on new products. It is aimed at senior and middle managers in food and drink processing.
Remember this focus when pitching to editor, Bethan Grylls. There is also a daily newsletter, which offers additional opportunities for coverage.
You should check out the monthly Food Manufacture podcast too, where episodes cover all themes from recalls and food safety to searching for young talent within the sector, usually through the prism of interviews with movers and shakers in the industry.
BusinessLive: Manufacturing
From Reach PLC (the largest publisher in the UK and Ireland), BusinessLive covers activities across the UK on a regional and national level. We recommend checking out its manufacturing stories, as well as coverage of local markets and major sectors in different regions.
It’s a great champion of local businesses and loves following local entrepreneurs to see how they are driving their industries forward. Largely concerned with news rather than views, it gives local business content a national platform that’s inspiring, informed and inquisitive
For pitching, email the newsdesk.
FMCG CEO
FMCG CEO is a magazine tailored specifically for CEOs and other senior decision-makers driving the British FMCG industry.
It’s the result of a merger between Packaging Gazette and FMCG News. You’ll find a lot of thought leadership pieces in this magazine, which has a renewed focus on the most prominent leaders spearheading the sector. That said, packaging, processing and manufacturing still feature heavily, as well as all the sector-related news and features you’d expect.
The website features regularly updated news, products, features, upcoming events and company profile sections, while the print magazine is published bi-monthly.
If you have a pitch, the person to contact is senior editor Eamonn Duff, who is a highly respected figure in British trade journalism. Just make sure that the story is something business executives will want to read.
Manufacturing Digital
The innovative Manufacturing Digital comprises a daily updated online news, reports and opinion platform, and a monthly free e-magazine. They keep business executives up-to-date with breaking events, information and trends from across the manufacturing industry.
This interactive website and magazine aim to bring the reader inside the world of manufacturing, including comprehensive insight and analysis. Content includes key trends, technological advances, lean developments, operational excellence and the progression of people and skills throughout the industry.
Pitch your suggestions to editor, Rachael Brown, or her deputy, Libby Hargreaves.
Manufacturing & Engineering Magazine
Manufacturing and Engineering Magazine (known to those in the biz as MEM) believes that innovation thrives in a collaborative environment and brings together thought leaders, industry experts, academics and enthusiasts who share its commitment to advancing manufacturing and engineering.
It covers the gamut of manufacturing projects, from aerospace to automotive and robotics to sustainable energy, to help engineers, technicians and decision-makers make informed choices.
Discuss your news and ideas with gregarious editor, Marc Thirkell.
The Engineer
The Engineer combines news, in-depth reports and hard-hitting opinion across every engineering sector you can think of.
Editor and publisher, Jon Excell, is interested in impactful thought leadership and the latest news from all industry sectors, making this the go-to publication for senior engineers through to C-suite executives
The highly-respected website and monthly (ten times yearly) print outlet covers aerospace, automotive, chemical, electronics, robotics, energy, environment operations and more.
Engineering & Technology
Engineering & Technology is the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s (IET) award-winning monthly magazine and associated website for professional engineers, reaching around 150,000 readers.
It covers all areas of engineering and technology through exclusive news, features, analysis, announcements and job adverts. Part of its appeal is the sheer diversity of its content – from beetles with tiny backpacks to AI line-calling in sports to the steady rise in electric vehicle sales and the dawn of autonomous robots.
Editor, Tim Fryer, is a mining engineering graduate with three decades of experience across STEM publications, covering engineering, technology, built environment, facility management, design, electrical industry and many more.
Professional Engineering
Professional Engineering is a magazine and website covering engineering topics including aerospace, automotive, energy, manufacturing, transport and skills.
It’s the membership publication of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), which is a purpose-driven organisation, committed to improving the world through engineering. It serves life-long learning opportunities to some 110,000 members, many of whom will achieve professionally registered status.
PE focuses on how engineers and technicians develop outstanding technical solutions to global challenges, showcasing innovations that benefit society and support members’ career development.
Editor Joseph Flaig is looking for news and thought leadership that helps members maximise their impact while working towards a more sustainable world.
Manufacturing and Engineering Magazine (MEM)
Manufacturing and Engineering Magazine is a leading UK engineering magazine and manufacturing news source that champions innovation and technological advancement across the entire manufacturing chain.
Editor Ciaran Jarosz covers a wide range of sectors such as: contract manufacturing, 3D printing, structural and civil engineering, automotive manufacturing, aerospace engineering, marine engineering, rail engineering, industrial engineering, CAD and schematic designs.
This makes it a prime resource for independent, quality editorial content, especially as MEM focuses on both overarching engineering news topics and specific technical developments.
When pitching to Ciaran Jarosz, think innovation and tech advancement – stories that show how engineering is evolving across different sectors will resonate well.
The nationals…
Aside from the dedicated industry press, manufacturing news (obviously dependent on the size and scope of the story) is regularly covered by the national and global media. As has been the case for a long time, the BBC is the most visited news site in the world, so paying it particular attention is a good idea, but all of the UK nationals have a global manufacturing reach.
Earlier this year, Donald Trump announced a sweeping set of international trade tariffs. When a big manufacturing story like this is published, it’s a good opportunity to review who the nationals assign to it. In this case, for the BBC, it was Asia digital reporter, Tessa Wong, and US reporter, Kayla Epstein.
The Times gave it to its Whitehall editor, Chris Smyth; The Guardian pushed it to its international site editor, Graham Russell; general reporter, Ryan Hooper and then freelance contributor (and now features intern with The Daily Express), Ben Green, reported the story for the Daily Mail. The Independent’s rundown of the immediate impact for the UK was helmed by audience reporter, Albert Toth, reporter, Barney Davis and data correspondent Alicja Hagopian. Among many others from each of those outlets.
Seismic, international manufacturing and supply chain news can be assigned to just about anybody, on any beat – from the “usual suspects”, like industry, economics and energy specialists, to juniors and seniors on news, business, politics, features, industry, economics, environment and climate change, overseas bureaux and more. Some reports might be succinct and punchy, while others could see a whole series of articles that approach a news point from multiple angles.
A right mixed bag. Some more obvious than others: yes, targeting industry editors makes sense, and no, you wouldn’t think to go after a Whitehall editor necessarily (although it makes a lot of sense when you think about a UK government angle) or a data journalist (although, again, if there are numbers to be crunched and facts to be pinned down, why not?).
Our media relations team does two things when pitching manufacturing stories they think have legs beyond the industry press:
- They look back through their networking notes for clues on journos with connected interests.
- They look for trends in previous stories for clues on which ‘angle within the angle’ a journalist might be interested in (for example, Trump’s tariffs is a story about manufacturing prospects and job creation and protection around the world, but it’s also about specific industries, politics, psychology, emerging technologies, economics, shifting allegiances, Brexit and the EU and so much more).
This is just a snippet of the ever-evolving media landscape in the manufacturing sector. If you’re eager to learn how to navigate this dynamic and share your manufacturing stories, why not get in touch with our B2B PR experts?
Written by Katie Chodosh, Head of Media Relations and Jasmin Martin, Senior Media Relations Executive.
Updated by David Gatehouse, Media Relations Consultant, on 03/09/2025.
