Andy Burnham Pushes 'Making Things' in Britain as McLaren Pledges £500m and 1,000 New Jobs

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has declared that Britain should be a country that 'makes things' as McLaren Automotive announced a £500 million UK investment expected to create 1,000 jobs by 2032.

Burnham hailed the investment on Wednesday, 16 September, as an example of his government's push to reindustrialise Britain, with McLaren expanding manufacturing and engineering while preparing to build its own engines in-house for the first time.

McLaren Makes £500m UK Bet

The British supercar manufacturer plans to expand its research, development and production operations in South Yorkshire and establish a new vehicle assembly facility in the UK.

McLaren expects the programme to create at least 1,000 direct and indirect jobs across its British operations by 2032, including positions in Woking, Surrey, and South Yorkshire.

The government estimates the expansion could create up to 3,000 additional jobs across the wider automotive sector. McLaren separately says its investment will support at least 3,000 jobs across the wider UK economy.

The company will also double the size of its South Yorkshire composites facility as part of what it describes as the largest financial commitment in its history.

McLaren will retain the design, engineering and manufacturing of its future vehicles in Britain as it broadens its range beyond the supercars for which the company is best known.

For the first time in McLaren Automotive's history, future powertrains will also be designed and built in-house, beginning with two new engines and transmissions.

Burnham Wants Britain 'Making Things'

In a post on X, Burnham said Britain should be a country that makes things, arguing that manufacturing creates good jobs, provides opportunities for young people and builds pride in communities.

He described McLaren's decision as backing Britain by keeping design, engineering and manufacturing in the country.

'This is what reindustrialising Britain looks like,' Burnham said.

The prime minister also highlighted apprenticeships expected to result from the expansion, presenting them as part of a wider effort to provide young people with routes into skilled manufacturing.

Burnham said he wanted young people to know there was a future for them in making things regardless of where they grew up.

First Secretary of State Louise Haigh and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds were scheduled to visit McLaren's Technology Centre in Woking on Wednesday as the government highlighted the investment.

New Factory and Future Models

The investment will also provide McLaren with capacity to expand its vehicle portfolio.

Chief executive Nick Collins said the programme would allow the company to increase vehicle assembly in Britain, develop its next generation of cars and scale its carbon-fibre operations in South Yorkshire.

McLaren has also confirmed plans to enter the performance SUV market as part of its broader product strategy.

The £500 million programme is backed by L'IMAD, a sovereign investor owned by the Abu Dhabi government and McLaren Automotive's shareholder.

For Burnham, however, the significance stretches beyond one luxury carmaker.

His government is presenting McLaren's commitment as evidence that advanced manufacturing can deliver skilled employment, apprenticeships and investment across Britain.

With 1,000 jobs planned and thousands more potentially supported across the wider economy, McLaren has become an early showcase for Burnham's promise to put making things back at the centre of Britain's economic strategy.