At Prowess, we have supported women in business since 2001, and we know that turning a product idea into a scalable brand often means looking beyond UK suppliers. China has been the world’s largest manufacturer since 2010, according to UNIDO data. For UK small businesses, including the growing number of women-led firms, manufacturing in China can open the door to advanced production capacity, competitive unit costs and specialist suppliers that are hard to find elsewhere.

According to ONS data from 2024, UK businesses imported goods worth approximately £64 billion from China, making China one of the UK’s largest import partners. While lower labour costs originally drove the shift to China, its strength today lies in deep supply chains, technical expertise and the ability to scale quickly. Even as Chinese wages have risen and global trade tensions have increased, many UK entrepreneurs continue to source components and finished products from Chinese factories.

Women-led businesses are an increasingly important part of this picture. The Alison Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship has charted the rapid growth of women-led SMEs in the UK and the barriers they still face in accessing finance and markets. For these founders, overseas manufacturing can be a route to growth, but it also brings practical challenges around distance, language, quality control and cash flow. See our Women in Business: Key UK Facts page for more statistics, and our Rose Review Female Entrepreneurship: Progress or Promises? analysis for the latest policy context.

Reasons to consider manufacturing in China

For product-based start-ups and small retailers, sourcing from China offers several advantages beyond cost.

• Scale and flexibility: Chinese factories often accept smaller minimum order quantities (MOQs) than UK manufacturers, while still being able to ramp up to large volumes.
• Speed to market: Established industrial clusters mean materials, tooling and labour are often located close together, shortening lead times once a supplier is selected.
• Specialist capabilities: From electronics and textiles to plastics and packaging, many Chinese regions specialise in particular sectors, giving you access to experienced suppliers.
• Competitive pricing: Large-scale production and integrated supply chains help keep unit costs down, improving margins.

That said, cost should never be the only consideration. Cheap production can come with hidden risks, including inconsistent quality, intellectual property (IP) disputes and supply-chain ethics concerns.

Understanding the risks: IP, compliance and ethics

Before placing an order, UK businesses need to understand their legal and ethical obligations.

Protect your designs before sharing them

Register your trade marks, designs and patents in the UK and, where possible, in China before sharing drawings or samples. Use non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and clearly worded manufacturing agreements. Be cautious about asking a factory to copy an existing product: this can stray into counterfeiting and expose your business to legal action.

Check UK product safety and labelling

Goods imported into the UK must meet relevant safety and labelling standards. Depending on the product, you may need UKCA marking, CE marking, or both. The UK government currently recognises CE marking alongside UKCA for many product categories, but the rules vary by sector and are subject to change. You may also need UK REACH compliance for chemicals, or specific rules for toys, electronics and textiles. The Office for Product Safety and Standards and gov.uk provide guidance, and a customs agent or compliance consultant can help.

Plan for customs, duty and VAT

Since Brexit, UK businesses need an EORI number starting with GB to import goods. You will also need to pay customs duty and import VAT. Import VAT is generally due on consignments valued over £135, while customs duty rates depend on the product classification and any applicable trade agreement. Factor these costs into your pricing from the start. Our guide to saving time and money with international business partners has more practical tips.

Carry out ethical sourcing checks

UK businesses can face reputational damage if their supply chains involve forced labour, unsafe conditions or environmental harm. Ask suppliers about audits, certifications and factory working conditions. The UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 requires larger businesses to publish transparency statements, but smaller firms should still carry out due diligence. The UK government has consulted on stronger supply chain due diligence rules, so these obligations may tighten further.

When to use a sourcing agent

Managing a factory relationship from the UK is difficult if you do not speak Mandarin, understand Chinese business culture or have staff on the ground. This is where a sourcing agent can help.

A reputable UK-China sourcing agent acts as your representative in China. They can identify suitable factories, request quotes, negotiate terms, manage samples, supervise production, conduct quality inspections and arrange shipping. For women entrepreneurs running lean teams, this can free up time to focus on sales, marketing and product development.

When choosing an agent, look for:

• A transparent fee structure, rather than hidden commissions from factories.
• Experience in your product category.
• References from UK clients.
• Clear quality-control processes and inspection reports.
• Good communication in English and Mandarin.

Agents are not essential for every business. If you are testing a small idea, you might start with a wholesale marketplace or a dropshipping arrangement. However, for bespoke products or larger orders, an agent can reduce costly mistakes.

Example: manufacturing a retro bedside lamp

Imagine your women-led business has designed a stylish retro plastic bedside lamp that you want mass-produced for the UK market.

Lamp casings are typically made by injection moulding, where molten plastic is forced into a mould cavity and cooled. You would provide detailed technical drawings, material specifications and a sample or 3D render to illustrate the finished look.

Without an agent, finding and vetting injection-moulding factories in China can be time-consuming. A sourcing agent would shortlist suppliers with relevant experience, request quotes that include tooling costs, unit prices and lead times, and arrange samples for approval. They would then monitor production, carry out pre-shipment inspections and help coordinate freight to the UK.

During this process, you should:

• Request samples from at least two or three suppliers before committing.
• Agree on quality standards, defect rates and rework terms in writing.
• Use a secure payment method and staged payments, such as a deposit with the balance paid after inspection.
• Confirm Incoterms 2020 so you know who is responsible for shipping, insurance and customs costs.

Getting started: a checklist for women founders

• Validate your product idea and estimate demand in the UK.
• Protect your IP before sharing designs.
• Research suppliers through trade directories, trade shows and referrals.
• Get quotes that include tooling, samples, unit price, packaging, shipping, duties and VAT.
• Obtain an EORI number from HMRC and understand your customs obligations.
• Arrange quality inspections before shipment.
• Build a relationship with your supplier and plan repeat orders.

Next steps for women founders

Manufacturing in China is not a shortcut to easy profits, but with careful planning it can give UK small businesses access to world-class production. For women entrepreneurs looking to scale a product business, the key is to combine clear product specifications, strong IP protection and reliable on-the-ground support. Start by validating demand, protecting your designs and requesting quotes from at least three suppliers before you commit to your first production run.