Top 10 Best Hardware Manufacturers in Oadby and Wigston

A Region Built on Making Things

Long before it became a commuter-friendly borough on the edge of Leicester, Wigston was known for framework knitting, and its Framework Knitters Museum still tells the story of the area's industrious past. Leicestershire and the wider East Midlands have remained a manufacturing powerhouse, producing everything from heavy engineering equipment to electrical machines and computer components.

Today, businesses and residents in Oadby and Wigston rely on hardware for almost every aspect of daily life, from laptops and servers to industrial machinery and vehicles. This guide explores the hardware manufacturers that matter most to the borough, combining regional engineering champions with the technology brands that power local offices, schools and homes.

Our Selection Criteria

We considered product quality, reliability, innovation, regional presence and economic contribution, after-sales support and sustainability commitments. The list blends industrial and computing hardware because both are vital to the local economy.

The Top 10 Hardware Manufacturers

1. Caterpillar

Caterpillar operates a significant manufacturing site at Desford in Leicestershire, producing heavy construction equipment that is exported around the world. Its presence supports skilled engineering jobs and a supply chain of smaller firms across the county, many of which employ residents from Oadby and Wigston.

2. Brush Group

Based in Loughborough, Brush has more than a century of experience designing and manufacturing electrical generators, transformers and switchgear. Its equipment supports power infrastructure in the UK and overseas, making it one of Leicestershire's most important engineering exporters.

3. Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce's aerospace operations in nearby Derby make the East Midlands a global centre for jet engine manufacturing. The company's investment in advanced engineering, digital twins and sustainable aviation fuels influences the entire regional supply chain and inspires engineering graduates from Leicester's universities.

4. JCB

JCB, headquartered in Staffordshire, is one of Britain's best-known manufacturing brands. Its diggers and construction machinery are a familiar sight on building sites across Leicestershire, including the new housing developments that continue to shape the borough. JCB is also leading innovation in hydrogen-powered engines.

5. Raspberry Pi

Raspberry Pi has transformed computing education and prototyping with its affordable single-board computers, largely manufactured in Wales. Schools in Oadby and Wigston use them to teach coding, while engineers and hobbyists rely on them for home automation, robotics and industrial monitoring projects.

6. Arm

Cambridge-based Arm designs the processor architecture found in the vast majority of the world's smartphones and an increasing number of laptops and servers. Although Arm licenses designs rather than manufacturing chips itself, its technology is inside many of the devices residents use every day.

7. Scan Computers

Scan is a British specialist in custom-built PCs, workstations and servers. Creative professionals, gamers and businesses needing high-performance machines for design, video editing or AI development often choose Scan for its configurable systems and UK-based technical support.

8. Novatech

Novatech has been building computers in the UK for decades, supplying businesses, schools and public sector organisations. Its focus on reliability, warranty support and competitive pricing makes it a popular choice for local organisations refreshing their IT equipment.

9. Dell Technologies

Dell is a leading supplier of laptops, desktops, servers and storage systems to UK businesses. Its business lines offer configurable hardware, extended warranties and on-site support, and many IT providers in the Leicester area build their managed services around Dell equipment.

10. HP

HP remains one of the most trusted names for computers and printers in homes and offices across the borough. Its business range includes security features designed to protect devices from firmware attacks, and its sustainability programmes focus on recycled materials and responsible end-of-life recycling.

Trends Shaping Hardware Manufacturing

Sustainability is now central to manufacturing strategy. Producers are reducing emissions, using recycled materials and designing products that are easier to repair. Electrification and alternative fuels are reshaping heavy equipment, while the global demand for AI computing is driving innovation in processors and data centre hardware.

Automation and robotics are also changing factory floors across the East Midlands. Manufacturers are investing in smart sensors, predictive maintenance and digital twins, creating demand for workers with both engineering and digital skills. Local colleges and universities are responding with courses that combine these disciplines.

Why Regional Manufacturing Matters to the Borough

Strong regional manufacturing supports well-paid jobs, apprenticeships and supply chain opportunities for smaller businesses. Many residents of Oadby and Wigston commute to engineering sites across Leicestershire and Derbyshire, and local firms provide components, logistics and professional services to larger manufacturers.

Tips for Buying Hardware

When choosing technology hardware, consider total cost of ownership rather than purchase price alone. Look for strong warranties, available spare parts and energy efficiency. Businesses should standardise devices where possible to simplify support, and always ensure old equipment is securely wiped and recycled through accredited schemes.

Conclusion

From heavy engineering giants to computing innovators, the hardware manufacturers above play a vital role in the lives of people and businesses in Oadby and Wigston. The borough's place within the East Midlands manufacturing heartland means residents are close to some of the most important engineering activity in the country, and well served by the technology brands that keep modern life running.