HT Brigham Pressings sees growing demand as OEMs seek dependable British aerospace and defence suppliers
The latest manufacturing data paints a picture of a UK industrial sector proving far more resilient than many expected. Despite geopolitical uncertainty, supply chain disruption and rising input costs, UK manufacturing output has continued to strengthen, while aerospace production is emerging as one of the country’s standout success stories.
According to recent analysis of Office for National Statistics data, UK manufacturing output increased by 1.4% over the past year, with aerospace production rising by an impressive 12.1%, generating £8.6 billion of output during the first quarter of 2026. At the same time, the latest S&P Global UK Manufacturing PMI reached 53.9 in May, its highest level in four years, signalling continued expansion across the sector.
For Birmingham-based aerospace and defence manufacturing specialist HT Brigham Pressings, the data reflects a trend that customers have been discussing for several years: the need for stronger, more resilient and more transparent UK supply chains.
As global supply chains continue to face disruption from geopolitical tensions, shipping constraints, commodity price volatility and labour shortages, OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers are increasingly reviewing sourcing strategies and bringing critical manufacturing work closer to home.
Doug Allen, CEO of HT Brigham Pressings, believes the current environment is creating significant opportunities for manufacturers that can demonstrate agility, reliability and long-term resilience.
“The businesses that are winning work today are not necessarily the cheapest. They are the suppliers that can prove they will still be delivering tomorrow, next year and five years from now.”
“Across aerospace, defence and advanced engineering, we’re seeing customers place increasing value on supply chain resilience. They want responsive UK manufacturing partners who can react quickly, support programme changes, maintain quality standards and provide complete transparency throughout production.”
The trend is particularly evident within aerospace supply chains, where programme continuity, compliance and traceability remain critical requirements.
Precision Aerospace Presswork Manufactured in Britain
HT Brigham Pressings is a UK aerospace pressings specialist delivering precision metal presswork, stampings, tooling and assemblies for aerospace, defence and advanced engineering supply chains. Operating from Birmingham, the heart of British manufacturing, the company supports OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers and aerospace engineering businesses with dependable UK manufacturing capability engineered around quality, traceability and long-term supply resilience.
Holding AS9100 Rev D and ISO 9001 accreditation, HT Brigham manufactures aerospace metal pressings and formed components using a high-performance press fleet ranging from 60 to 400 tonnes, including progression presses, transfer presses and single-operation presswork capability.
The business supports customers requiring reliable UK sourcing for aerospace structures, brackets, housings, enclosures, formed components and complex assemblies where repeatability, compliance and engineering support are essential.
Aerospace Growth Highlights Strategic Importance of UK Capability
The aerospace sector’s double-digit growth over the last year demonstrates the importance of maintaining sovereign manufacturing capability across Britain’s industrial base.
While much attention has been focused on reshoring and nearshoring, Allen believes the conversation has evolved beyond simple geography.
Managing Director Allan Murray explains: “Customers aren’t simply asking where parts are manufactured anymore so much as whether suppliers have the capacity, technical capability, quality systems and financial stability to support programmes throughout their lifecycle.”
“That creates a huge opportunity for British manufacturers who have invested in quality, engineering expertise and operational resilience.”
HT Brigham’s aerospace presswork capability combines precision manufacturing with disciplined quality control, robust programme management and full traceability. The company manufactures low-to-medium volume aerospace components supported by integrated tooling expertise, supply chain management and secondary finishing operations.
Acquisition Strategy Reflects Market Confidence
The company’s confidence in the future of UK manufacturing is reflected in its active acquisition strategy.
HT Brigham is currently evaluating opportunities to acquire complementary engineering businesses as part of a wider growth programme designed to strengthen capability, increase capacity and further enhance customer resilience.
Allen believes consolidation within parts of the manufacturing sector will accelerate over the coming years.
“There are excellent engineering businesses across the UK with exceptional people, knowledge and customer relationships. Some are facing succession challenges, others are struggling with investment requirements or market pressures.”
“We see opportunities to preserve valuable manufacturing capability, strengthen customer support and create more resilient supply chains by bringing complementary businesses together” adds Murray.
The company is also increasingly supporting major customers seeking to relocate work from suppliers facing operational difficulties.
“We’ve been approached by several large organisations looking to transfer programmes from suppliers who are struggling with quality, delivery performance, capacity constraints or wider business challenges” continues Allen.
“When critical aerospace or defence programmes are involved, customers cannot afford uncertainty. They need suppliers capable of onboarding work quickly, validating tooling, maintaining traceability and delivering production continuity.”
AS9100 Aerospace Manufacturing Standards Driving Confidence
Operating to AS9100 Rev D standards, quality assurance remains embedded throughout every stage of production at HT Brigham Pressings.
From material certification and tooling validation through to First Article Inspection (FAI), batch traceability and final inspection, the company’s systems are designed to support aerospace compliance requirements and reduce programme risk.
Key priorities include:
- Full traceability
Controlled manufacturing processes - Repeatable production
Documentation and compliance - Supply chain transparency
- Programme risk reduction
As global uncertainty continues to influence sourcing decisions, Allen believes the strongest UK manufacturers are well-positioned to benefit.
“The headlines often focus on disruption, but disruption creates opportunity.”
“The UK has some of the most capable aerospace and defence manufacturers anywhere in the world. Businesses that can demonstrate agility, engineering excellence, quality assurance and reliable delivery are increasingly becoming the partner of choice.”
“For customers seeking resilient UK sourcing strategies, the message is simple: invest in relationships with suppliers who can support your programmes for the long term.”
With aerospace production growing, defence spending increasing and manufacturers continuing to prioritise resilient supply chains, the outlook for Britain’s most capable engineering businesses remains increasingly positive.
For HT Brigham Pressings, the challenge is no longer proving the value of UK manufacturing capability — it is ensuring sufficient capacity exists to meet the growing demand for it.