A Strong Supply Chain Starts at Home

Over the past few years, the vulnerabilities of global supply chains have become increasingly evident. From global pandemics and geopolitical instability to shipping delays and component shortages, businesses across every sector have experienced first-hand how exposed international supply chains can be.

For manufacturers operating in critical sectors such as life sciences, these disruptions are about far more than delayed deliveries or rising costs. They can directly affect healthcare systems, scientific research and, ultimately, people's lives. Strengthening domestic manufacturing capability is therefore not just important for businesses themselves, but a necessity for the whole of the UK – the UK’s modern industrial strategy is supporting this through its prioritisation of advanced manufacturing as a key sector, and additional protections for foundational industries that are important for supply chain.

At Dulas, we've spent more than four decades proving that a business born in mid-Wales can have a genuine global impact and use renewable energy to solve real-world challenges. We are the only UK-manufacturer of World Health Organisation (WHO) accredited off-grid solar powered vaccine refrigerators, and since 2020 we have exported over 9000 fridges to countries including Nigeria, Yemen, Uganda, Sudan, and Venezuela, with projections estimating over 10,000 by the end of 2026. Our solar-powered vaccine refrigerators have helped improve the lives of thousands of people in developing countries. We are now supporting immunisation programmes in 80 countries across the world, and today, almost 100 employees work across our operations in Wales, Scotland and West Sussex.

Despite this growth, we have experienced many of the same challenges facing manufacturers across Britain.

One of the biggest barriers we have encountered is navigating the procurement of critical components within the supply chain, which has become increasingly complex in recent years. Longer lead times, fluctuating costs and constrained availability have made procurement significantly more complex than it was only a few years ago. In sectors like life sciences, these delays have consequences that extend well beyond commercial performance. Every disruption has the potential to delay the delivery of equipment that healthcare providers depend upon every day.

We can’t simply turn our back on global trade, as the global markets are essential for growth, and international supply chains remain a key part of modern manufacturing. Instead, resilience means ensuring that Britain retains the capability to design, manufacture and innovate in strategically important sectors while maintaining a balanced, strategic approach to international procurement. .

At Dulas, we have been working hard to build strong, long-term relationships with our suppliers and improve our forward planning, ensuring better visibility of demand and stock requirements. The stronger our domestic manufacturing base becomes, the more resilient our overall supply chains will be.

For many SME’s, resilience also means securing access to the right finance to weather external storms and meet demands where delays cannot be avoided. Manufacturing requires significant upfront investment in materials and production long before customers receive their products, and managing this cash to support international orders can be a real challenge.

Support through UK Export Finance (UKEF) and the Industrial Strategy has helped us bridge this gap. Access to working capital has given us the confidence to take on larger international contracts, place component orders earlier and hold sufficient stock to meet customer demand. More importantly, it has allowed us to invest for growth rather than simply react to uncertainty. Access to this finance was instrumental for us as we launched our new pharmacy and laboratory refrigerators which will be sold across the UK and Europe.

Strong domestic manufacturing underpins export success, and the backing we have received has enabled us to enter a long term framework agreement with International NGO and grow our presence in markets such as Kenya and Ethiopia, all the while supporting global immunisation programmes through our WHO-accredited cold chain equipment.

Many UK manufacturers have the expertise and ambition to grow but need the confidence that comes from stable industrial policy and support for innovation, which is exactly what the government's Modern Industrial Strategy provides. If anything, our story shows how with the right support, any business can compete and lead on the world stage. There is a real opportunity to strengthen the UK’s position as a manufacturing powerhouse, and for other SME’s there is support out there to help create skilled jobs, support exports and generate the confidence to invest further in innovation.

Simply put, strong supply chains are built through long-term investment, trusted partnerships, innovation and supportive industrial policy. If we want Britain to remain competitive in the industries that will define future growth, we must continue backing manufacturers that are creating high-value products here at home. By strengthening domestic capability today, we can reduce dependence on imports where it matters most, and build supply chains that are fit for the future.