Local MP visits Made in Britain member, Thor Hammer

Thor Hammer, which proudly displays the Made in Britain trademark on its range of soft-faced hammers, recently welcomed Solihull West & Shirley MP Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst (pictured above, centre) to its West Midlands headquarters. The visit highlighted the company’s commitment to British manufacturing and the importance of export-led growth for UK industry.

Boasting over a century of manufacturing, Thor Hammer exports 44% of its products to 80 countries, supplying sectors such as automotive, aerospace and industrial engineering. The company is a long-standing member of Made in Britain, the globally recognised mark of British manufacturers. The membership organisation supports over 2,100 UK manufacturers, helping them navigate international markets, showcase British craftsmanship, and strengthen the reputation of British-made goods worldwide.

Steve Mason, MD of Thor Hammer, said: “We’re not simply creating a product, we are passing on over a century of finely-honed skills and expertise to the next generation of craftsmen. We’re incredibly proud of our heritage and that’s why we’re thrilled to display our Made in Britain mark. It carries an awful lot of gravitas in the global market.”

Established in the 1920s, Thor Hammer’s legacy is built on innovation. The company was tasked with producing soft-faced hammers and mallets for the war effort during WWII, with its dual copper and hide-faced design enabling critical infrastructure to be built in near silence. Today, Thor Hammer continues to apply this same expert craftsmanship to serve modern industries worldwide.

The business is also recognised for its progressive approach to workforce management, having introduced a four-day working week years before it became a mainstream discussion. This decision has helped retain skilled craftspeople, with more than half of its workforce serving over a decade with the company.

“Manufacturers like Thor Hammer showcase the strength of British craftsmanship,” stated John Pearce, CEO of Made in Britain. “With every expertly made product, they reinforce the reputation of Made in Britain as a mark of quality, skill and innovation on the global stage. I’m pleased to highlight their ongoing journey and congratulate the team on its growing success in the global export market.”

Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst MP added: “It was excellent to meet Steve and his team at Thor Hammer in Shirley. Their products are world renowned and I’m delighted they are crafted in the local economic hub of the Cranmore Business Park. During the visit, I was taken through the production process and saw the precision engineering involved in manufacturing the range of hammers on offer, all of which proudly carry the ‘Made In Britain’ trademark. I even had the opportunity to have a go at building my own hammer. We had a wide-ranging discussion on the challenges facing businesses as they seek to navigate the global market conditions.”