Regional factors enabling manufacturing reshoring strategies: a case study perspective

Firms’ reshoring strategies have recently sparked academic and policy interest due to their contribution to rebalancing advanced economies. In line with the ongoing debate and by examining the journey of a company based in the West Midlands region of the UK, this work illustrates the adoption of a manufacturing reshoring strategy in response to a changing competitive environment. Further, by utilizing a mixture of primary and secondary data, this work not only shows how regional dynamics are pivotal for attracting manufacturing reshoring but also how regional characteristics can change the narrative on reshoring from a national to a regional focus. By doing so, this work demonstrates how regional implementation of industrial policies can facilitate a multiplier effect in the value of the region by increasing the attractiveness of hosting a manufacturing reshoring strategy.

CONTRIBUTION TO KNOWLEDGE: This paper advances international business (IB) and economic geography scholarship by providing a nuanced, case-based analysis of the regional conditions that enable manufacturing reshoring strategies. It deepens understanding of how firm-level reshoring decisions are shaped by place-based factors such as regional capabilities, institutional support, skills ecosystems, and innovation infrastructures. By integrating IB perspectives with regional development insights, the paper offers a multi-level explanation of reshoring that extends beyond firm strategy alone.

ORIGINALITY: The paper is original in adopting a qualitative, case-study perspective to examine reshoring, a phenomenon that has been dominated by quantitative and macro-level analyses. It moves beyond binary offshoring–reshoring debates by identifying enabling regional mechanisms that actively support firms’ strategic reconfiguration of global value chains. This place-sensitive approach provides novel insights into how reshoring unfolds in practice and why outcomes vary across regions.

SIGNIFICANCE: The findings are significant for IB scholarship, policymakers, and practitioners. For academics, the paper enriches theory on global value chain reconfiguration and location strategy by embedding regional context into reshoring analysis. For policymakers and regional development agencies, it provides actionable insights into how targeted interventions, such as skills development, innovation support, and institutional coordination, can facilitate sustainable reshoring. The research directly informs debates on industrial policy, regional resilience, and post-globalisation strategy.

RIGOUR: The study demonstrates strong qualitative rigour through systematic case selection, in-depth data collection, and transparent analytical procedures. The use of multiple data sources and careful cross-case comparison enhances credibility and analytical depth. Conceptual clarity ensures that findings are robust, theoretically grounded, and transferable across comparable regional and industrial contexts.

LINK TO MY IMPACT: This output contributes directly to my impact narrative on responsible IB and sustainable regional development. By identifying how reshoring can be enabled in ways that strengthen local economies, skills, and innovation ecosystems, the paper aligns with SDG-related objectives such as decent work, industry innovation, and reduced regional inequalities. It also underpins policy-relevant engagement with regional and national stakeholders, reinforcing my system-level impact on evidence-based industrial and regional policy.