Cambridge China Bridge
UK to China, direct

Direct Factory Sourcing. Local Accountability. UK-Wide Delivery.

We speak the language, we know the factory owners, and we cut out the noise — so you buy from China with UK peace of mind.

Get a free price comparisonSee how it works

Results our clients have seen

  • 70%Unit-cost cut for an EV charging operator
  • 50%Packaging saving for a café chain
  • 3×Faster scaling on lower costs
The problem

Why your margins are shrinking

Most UK businesses pay a "convenience tax" by buying from UK wholesalers or unverified online agents.

UK Wholesalers

  • Layered markups: paying 3–4 commissions before the goods reach you.
  • Lack of choice: your options are limited by the wholesaler, and unique products are hard to buy.

Online Agents

  • Quality lottery: risking your reputation on unverified "Gold Suppliers".
  • Logistics friction: managing the nightmare of duty, VAT and customs.
  • The 70% reality gap: up to 70% of "manufacturers" on global B2B platforms are actually trading companies.
Why us

Not just agents — we are business owners

We run our own F&B and tech businesses in and outside the UK. We understand margins and cost because we source for our own companies too.

  • Based in Cambridge & London, with our own people on the ground in China.
  • Native Mandarin and Cantonese speakers dealing directly with Chinese factory owners.
  • We cut out the sales agents and bring our sourcing advantages to you.
How it works

You order. We deliver. Everything in between is our job.

From understanding your need to clearing UK customs, we handle the whole chain — and cover import duty and VAT.

Explore the full process →

  1. Initial Investigation

    • Understand your need.
    • We find the source.
    • No middle agents.

  2. Factory Audit

    • Verification of ISO / CE / UKCA certificates.
    • We confirm real manufacturers, not traders.

  3. Samples

    • Obtain samples for quality checks.
    • Air-shipped for your physical approval.

  4. Quality Control

    • Physical inspections after manufacturing.
    • Checks in our China warehouses before shipping.

  5. Logistics

    • Door-to-door sea freight (around two months, including customs at both ends).
    • Or air freight (around two weeks).

  6. UK Customs

    • We handle all import duty and VAT.
    • Delivered to your door, UK-wide.
What we source

Specialised sourcing for diverse needs

Packaging, equipment, electronics, textiles, furniture, and much more.

Browse sectors →
Freshly made coffees and cake on a cafe table

Catering

Printed packaging, bespoke furniture and kitchen equipment.

View sector →
Close-up of a circuit board representing electronics and EV components

Electronics

High-precision machinery and EV infrastructure.

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A stack of neatly folded t-shirts

Merchandise

High-quality textiles, printed t-shirts and tote bags with low minimum order quantities.

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A modern building under construction with tower cranes

Construction

From bolts to tiles, wooden floors, furniture and kitchen units.

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Modern boardroom with a wooden table, mesh chairs and fitted shelving

Furniture & Fit-out

Hospitality, office and retail furniture, bespoke joinery and shopfitting.

View sector →
White gift boxes finished with red ribbon bows

Custom Packaging & Print

Branded boxes, labels, bags and custom-printed packaging at low MOQs.

View sector →
Rows of solar panels in a field under a blue sky

Renewable Energy

Solar panels, storage batteries and EV charging infrastructure.

View sector →
Polished stainless-steel industrial valves and pressure gauges

Machinery & Industrial

High-precision machinery, production lines and industrial equipment.

View sector →
Peace of mind

Buying from China, with UK peace of mind

We remove the fear of international trade.

Standard UK VAT invoices

Fully reclaimable for your business.

Sample-first policy

Air-shipped samples for your physical approval before you commit.

Compliance checks

We verify all required ISO / UKCA / CE standards before ordering.

Secure payments

We handle all international transfers via our UK, HK and China accounts.

Proof

Real outcomes for UK businesses

We only win when you save money. Here is what that looks like in practice.

Read the case studies →
A white electric car charging at a wall-mounted charge point

UK Electric Charging Operator

Scaling UK infrastructure

Challenge
High equipment costs from UK resellers were limiting expansion.
Solution
Direct factory sourcing and technical verification of components.
Result
70% reduction in unit cost, enabling the client to undercut competitors and scale 3x faster.
Read the case study →
Generic versus bespoke branded cafe packaging shown side by side

Multi-site Cambridge Café Chain

Transforming independent hospitality

Challenge
Expensive UK packaging with high minimum orders and long lead times for bespoke work.
Solution
Sourced custom-printed cups and merchandise with lower MOQs and short lead times.
Result
50% cost saving and significantly higher brand quality across all sites.
Read the case study →
Free tools

Work out your own numbers before you talk to anyone

Three calculators we built because our clients kept asking the same questions. No sign-up, no email required.

UK import duty calculatorSearch your product, get the commodity code and duty rate, and see duty, import VAT and total landed cost. Warns where Chinese goods carry anti-dumping duty.Open the toolShipping volume & container calculatorTurn carton dimensions into CBM, see how many fit a 20ft or 40ft container, and whether LCL or a full container makes sense.Open the toolChinese New Year 2027 plannerEnter the date you need stock in the UK and work backwards to the day you have to place the order, around the factory shutdown.Open the tool
Our fees

Zero risk, total transparency

We only win when you save money.

£0 sourcing fees

We don't charge you to look and explore.

£0 monthly retainers

No hidden ongoing costs.

One bespoke landed price

Product + shipping + duty, with no other hidden fees — and we believe it is significantly lower than your current UK spend.

See full pricing & fees
Guides

Sourcing know-how, in plain English

Practical guides to suppliers, quality, shipping and cost — so you can buy from China with confidence.

Browse all guides →
Getting startedHow China sourcing works, end to end5 min readLogistics & customsUK import duty and VAT on goods from China6 min readLogistics & customsUK customs clearance: EORI, commodity codes and documents7 min readLogistics & customsShipping from China to the UK: the full picture5 min read

Common questions

Do you charge sourcing fees?

No. We charge £0 sourcing fees and £0 monthly retainers — you get one transparent landed price, and we only win when you save.

How does the free price comparison work?

Send a link or a specification for something you buy today, and we return a free landed-price comparison within 72 hours.

Can you handle small orders?

Often yes — especially stock products with custom branding. We can also consolidate orders to reach a workable minimum.

Who handles shipping, duty and VAT?

We do. It is a door-to-door service: we handle freight, UK customs, duty and VAT, and provide a reclaimable UK VAT invoice.

How long does delivery take?

Roughly two months door to door by sea (including customs and delivery at both ends), or about two weeks by air.

Find your hidden margin

Send us a link or a specification for a product you currently buy. We will provide a free price comparison within 72 hours.

Start my free comparison
Free price comparison