Jen Shipley

Jun 4

Jenny Shipley has carved a deep niche for herself with her laser cutting business, Cut by Beam.

Our sister businesses have worked with her on many bespoke ranges of gifts and kitchenware and we are far from alone.

Here, Jenny talks about the importance of making in Britain.

What things do you make that are British?

We manufacture a range of products, for a diverse pool of clients. Some jobs are for individuals, but the bulk of our work is for business-to-business clients. Nearly all of our customers are part of the British manufacturing industry themselves, too.

Work varies, depending on what they require, we do trophies, awards, signage, gifts, retail products. You name it! We make things from wood, leather, recycled acrylic, rubber, enamel, paper, and more. Sometimes we make component parts for other products. For example with Hiut Denim we do their jeans labels and for Pentire Drinks we make wooden coasters and we etch metal plates for Cockwells boat makers.

Is Made in Britain an important part of your marketing and brand message?

It’s definitely important to the ethos of our company but it’s not necessarily something we currently highlight in our marketing. We often assume people realise our things are made by a small British team.

Do you find that your customers understand why British goods cost more than many others?

(Do you need to explain this, or do they understand it when they come to you?)

We sometimes feel that we have to justify things to some new customers; for example, when people ask us for discounts and we have to explain why our prices might seem higher than things they might be able to get ‘off the shelf’ elsewhere.

But the majority of our clients already appreciate that buying from a British manufacturer may cost more. They are often deliberately choosing to work with us as they want to source products which are more sustainable and ethical because they are made in Britain.

Do you feel that there’s a growth in interest in this type of provenance?

Yes, definitely. I say this based on people’s awareness and our increase in orders.

What British goods do you use every day?

In my home life I use a lot.

And at work, we use a variety of products; British leathers, some grown in Britain certified timber, Perspex and stainless steel made in the UK, British canvas, knives…

What British-made goods would you most like to own/do you have your eye on?

I’ve not got a long list! But whenever I buy something, I do try to buy British. Sometimes it’s frustrating, recently, researching a new kettle, I struggled to find a British made one. I buy locally sourced food where I can.