When people think of great British manufacturing, they will consider bridges, trains and cars as being among our finest examples of engineering.

Sadly, thanks in part to cut-price competition from abroad, the heyday of manufacturing is long over. But it is far from dead, it just needs redefining, according to Nick Locke (pictured) who has just set up electronic assembly firm Nicab.

Mr Locke is passionate about his chosen field and considers his work installing bespoke cable assemblies into machinery to be an important cog in the new wave of manufacturing that is smaller and more specialised, requiring a level of skill that raises it above that available abroad.

Born in Thame, Mr Locke, 34, has spent the bulk of his career in IT and electronics, working nine years with Eynsham-based European Electronique, before moving to Cumbria to work at electronic and electrical cable assemblies firm Brockhill Enterprises where he “caught the manufacturing bug.”

He said: “IT can be very service-orientated, rather than focusing on the product, but moving into manufacturing, I felt as if I was doing something imortant.

“Working with companies and developing prototypes where ideas were taken to full production was fascinating.”

But after his boss, Frank Purnell, died last November, Mr Locke decided to return home and put the benefit of his experience into running his own business.

He added: “It is about self-belief backed up with experience and a passion for what I do.”

Nicab specialises in cable assembly for any electrical device. An example of a current project is a lighting project for a theatre which, typically, is made to order rather than coming off the shelf.

Mr Locke has to design and install the cabling to fit the overall assembly.

“It is complex dealing with certain parts of the overall project,” he said.

But as well as complex commissions, Mr Locke can simply source cables for anyone wanting them.

While he is keen on manufacturing, he can source parts from China and the Far East, depending on a customer’s specific requirement and budget.

Mr Locke is currently working on his own from a factory workshop at Duns Tew, near Deddington, but can call on extra labour if required, through his contacts in the trade.

He has developed his website to include a blog which he updates regularly, and he is also using social media, such as Facebook, to help market the business.

Ideally, he would like to break into the military and medical markets but at the moment he is happy to keep a broad customer base.

He said: “I believe there is an opportunity here and a real future in this form of manufacturing.”

o Contact: Nicab, 01869 347148.

Web: www.nicab.co.uk