The Factory Next Door cover art

The Factory Next Door

The Factory Next Door

By: Steve Duke
Listen for free

About this listen

What’s on your list of the greatest products made in Britain? Join journalist Steve Duke as he criss-crosses the island to meet our makers in their factories and workshops.


Winner of a Silver Award at the British Podcast Awards 2025 and the Best Business Show at the Independent Podcast Awards 2024.


Join the community on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor


And if you can, please consider buying me a coffee to keep this show on the road


https://buymeacoffee.com/thefactorynextdoor

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steven Duke
Art Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Social Sciences Travel Writing & Commentary
Episodes
  • 43. The Premium Preserve
    Dec 16 2025

    The market for jams and preserves might seem… well, jam-packed, but get your recipe right and you’ll find space to grow.

    Number 43 on our list of the greatest products we make here is The Premium Preserve.

    On this week’s The Factory Next Door we visit Bristol to meet Nicola Elliott, founder of award-winning jam maker Single Variety Co.

    Nicola gives us a tour of her expanding factory as she explains why consistency is so hard in jam-making. She also reveals how a cancelled wedding helped transform her business and shares her big dream for the future.

    Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor

    The Factory Next Door is supported by AVEVA, a leader in industrial intelligence.

    Sign up to their bi-weekly newsletter about manufacturing here:

    www.aveva.com/factory

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    32 mins
  • 42. The Mountain Shirt
    Dec 2 2025

    There are somethings you can’t know about a company until you’ve bought it and had a riffle through the filing cabinets. In the case of clothing maker Buffalo Systems, it was numerous letters of appreciation from special forces, the military, and mountain rescue teams.

    Number 42 on our list of the greatest products we make here is The Mountain Shirt by Buffalo.


    Broadcaster and adventurer Ben Fogle and Savile Row tailor James Sleater acquired the Sheffield-based company earlier this year. On this week’s show, they explain why they had always wanted to buy the company.

    Plus, we also get an exclusive look at a special new product, consider why Britain has so few global luxury brands, and hear why slow growth is sustainable growth.

    Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor

    The Factory Next Door is supported by AVEVA, a leader in industrial intelligence.

    Sign up to their bi-weekly newsletter about manufacturing here:

    www.aveva.com/factory

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    40 mins
  • 41. The China Mug
    Nov 18 2025

    There’s plenty of reasons to buy a British manufacturer right now. On this week’s episode, artist Susan Rose reveals why she’s just done that – acquiring a pottery in Stoke-on-Trent.

    We take a tour to learn about getting the thickness of mugs just right, the art of the kiln-stack, and why the random-shake of a cup in water is not always what it seems.

    We also hear about overcoming dyslexia to build a business, and why a little help from your friends is so often invaluable.

    Plus, Susan gives thanks for the birds, saves a butterfly, and makes a mug for The Factory Next Door.

    Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoor

    The Factory Next Door is supported by AVEVA, a leader in industrial intelligence.

    Sign up to their bi-weekly newsletter about manufacturing here:

    www.aveva.com/factory

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    32 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.