Why doesn’t the UK
make more Robots?
Understanding the barriers to manufacturing robots in the UK and how to overcome them.
“As a former Business Minister and lifelong champion of British manufacturing, I believe robotics and automation are vital to unlocking the UK’s full potential for growth and competitiveness. This report is a clear signal and a blueprint for action”.
Lord Harrington of Watford, Chair – Make UK
Photograph courtesy of Labman Automation Ltd
“Britain has world-class researchers and innovators, but we too often stop short of turning that brilliance into world-class production”
Authors
Professor Robert Richardson
Real Robotics, University of Leeds. Expert in
real-world robotic systems operating in
the diverse environments of air, land,
and underwater.
Dr Sarah Field
Real Robotics,
University of Leeds. Community
Engagement Manager focussed on the
academic-industry interface.
Jonathan Walker
Innovation Lead:
Robotics and Sensors, Innovate UK.Expert in the use of robotics for
economic growth and societal benefit
Ben Scott-Robinson
Serial Entrepreneur. C-Suite Consultant and Advisor to UK and Scottish Governments on AgTech and Robotics.
Dr Sina Sareh
Reader in Robotics and
Design Intelligence, Royal College
of Art. Expert in robotics in high-risk
industrial environments, Director of
Circular Robot 5.0.
Professor Samia Nefti-Meziani OBE
University of Birmingham. Globally
recognised authority in AI and robotics,
Director of RESCu-M2.
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Please reference this work as:
Robert Richardson, Sarah Field, Jonathan Walker, Ben Scott-Robinson, Sina Sareh, Samia Nefti-Meziani (2025): Why doesn’t the UK make more Robots? White Rose Libraries. DOI: 10.48785/100/376.
“Why doesn’t the UK make more Robots?” is licenced under CC BY 4.0.
You can download the Make More Robots white paper on the White Rose website.