There is more than a whiff of “back to the future” about the way UK manufacturing is organised in the early years of the 21st century. As global competition intensifies, an increasing number of companies is using traditional craft-based techniques to survive and stay ahead of their rivals.

From clothing manufacture to precision machinery, and from foods to furniture, companies are making greater use of an “artisan” approach to production that relies on making items in small batches and with a high degree of customisation to suit the needs of a specific purchaser.