Leeds-based manufacturer and global exporter, WDS Components, has been recognised as ‘Heritage Manufacturer of the Year’ at the Made in Britain Impact Awards. The company has been trading for over 70 years and is credited as being among the UK’s earliest adopters of Computer Aided Design (CAD).
Judges praised the company’s longstanding legacy, its growing success exporting globally, and its continuous efforts to adapt to market challenges within its 73-year history.
Mark Moody, Sales and Marketing Director at WDS Components Ltd, said: “We’ve been manufacturing for over 70 years, and we supply an array of industries, from automotive, aerospace, engineering, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and everyone else, which makes us really robust. Our heritage is something we’re really proud of, and I’m delighted to accept this award on behalf of the company and the whole team.”
John Pearce, CEO of Made in Britain, added: “I’m delighted to recognise WDS Components as Made in Britain’s Heritage Manufacturer of the Year. The judging panel had no easy task in whittling down this category, with some persuasive entries from well-known businesses like H+H, Byworth Boilers and British Motor Heritage, but WDS Components was able to demonstrate its relentless energy in terms of delivering both excellence and innovation on a global scale.
“I’m tremendously proud to say that WDS Components is Made in Britain; it’s exactly the high calibre of British manufacturing we want to see thrive in the global export market – with the official trademark for British manufacturers firmly backing it.”
WDS Components was in esteemed company in the category, with Hemsec Manufacturing, a leading supplier of composite insulated panels, coming highly commended, while Carl Stuart Tailors, a long-established tailor, took home the Runner-Up prize.
The company now counts its Heritage Manufacturer of the Year award among its wide range of industry accolades, including Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Of The Year from the Make UK Manufacturing Awards 2023, and Best Parts & Machine Accessories Manufacturer & Supplier at the SME News Magazine’s 2024 British Made Awards.
Organised and hosted by the not-for-profit trade body, Made in Britain, the awards were open exclusively to its 2,200 members – manufacturers who proudly use the official Made in Britain trademark to promote their goods.
Other winners from the 2025 Made in Britain Impact Awards include Raeon (Innovation of the Year), Paxman Scalp Cooling (Heroes of British Export), Sunswap Ltd (Excellence in Procurement and Marketing Campaign of the Year), Morland (Social Impact), Wrought Iron & Brass Beds Ltd (Inspiring Leader of the Year) and Britwind (Sustainability Initiative of the Year).
For more information about the official Made in Britain campaign, visit: www.madeinbritain.org
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