Manufacturing Leaders

Send us Fan Mail In this latest episode of the Manufacturing Leaders Podcast, Mark Bracknall welcomes Gareth Kane, Managing Director of Terra Infirma, sustainability consultant, author, and host of the Net Zero Business Podcast, to discuss sustainability leadership, organisational change, and achieving meaningful environmental progress. The conversation explores Gareth's journey into sustaina...

Send us Fan Mail In this latest episode of the Manufacturing Leaders podcast, Mark welcomes Guy Armitage, Managing Director of York Handmade Brick, to discuss family business leadership, craftsmanship, innovation, and the future of sustainable manufacturing. The conversation explores Guy’s journey within a business built on generations of expertise, tracing York Handmade Brick’s evolution from its...

Send us Fan Mail In the latest episode of the Manufacturing Leaders' Podcast, Mark Bracknall is joined by Tim MacLaren, Operations Director at Industrial Technology Systems (ITS). Tim shares his unconventional career journey, from starting out in the police force to building a successful career in digital operations, technology and engineering leadership.  The conversation explores the import...

Send us Fan Mail In the latest episode of the Manufacturing Leaders’ Podcast, Mark Bracknall is joined by Ian Kinnery who shares his journey from leading multimillion-pound operations in the motor industry, including serving as managing director of the largest Mercedes-Benz car and truck dealership in Europe, to becoming a business and leadership coach. Following a significant personal breakdown t...

Send us Fan Mail In this recent webinar, Mark Bracknall sat down with Keith Ivory, founder of Transition HR Ltd., for a timely discussion on the major employment law changes set to impact UK businesses. With more than 30 years of HR experience spanning engineering, executive leadership, and employment law, Keith brings practical insight into the Employment Rights Act 2025 and what it means for emp...

Send us Fan Mail In the latest episode of the Manufacturing Leaders Podcast, Mark is joined by Gavin Duffy, CEO and Founder of Zeromachine, a pioneering business at the forefront of hydrogen-powered heavy machinery and sustainable engineering innovation. With more than 30 years of experience across automotive, electrical engineering, and off-road vehicle electrification, Gavin shares the journey t...

Send us Fan Mail In the latest episode of the Manufacturing Leaders Podcast, Mark is joined by Malcolm Humble, Managing Director of Arian EMS, who has built his career from the shop floor through to leading a successful electronics manufacturing business. Together, they explore Malcolm’s journey through the manufacturing industry, reflecting on the key moments, challenges, and decisions that shape...

Send us Fan Mail In the latest episode of the Manufacturing Leaders Podcast, Mark is joined by Ashleigh McKendrick, founder of The STEM Coach and an experienced chemical engineer turned leadership coach. Together, they explore the often-challenging transition from technical expertise into leadership roles within engineering and STEM. Ashleigh shares her own journey from the oil and gas industry in...

Send us Fan Mail What does it take to lead a 172-year-old business in a world that doesn't stand still? In the latest episode of the Manufacturing Leaders Podcast, Mark is joined by Kiran Fothergill, Executive Vice Chairman of the Kipling Group and sixth-generation leader behind Pickering Lifts.  Together, they explore the balance between legacy and innovation - and the responsibility that co...

Send us Fan Mail In this latest episode of the Manufacturing Leaders podcast, Mark welcomes Richard Bradley, CEO of SST Group, to discuss leadership, organisational culture, and the future of the engineering industry.  The conversation delves into Richard’s journey of transforming business environments through strategic vision and growth initiatives.  Emphasising the significance of values, Richar...

Send us Fan Mail In the latest episode of the Manufacturing Leaders podcast, we’re joined by Mark Greenhouse - a highly experienced manufacturing consultant who’s spent years working hands-on in the industry. Mark’s career spans from high-speed food production to advising factories across a wide range of manufacturing environments. Along the way, he’s built a deep understanding of how factories re...

Send us Fan Mail In the latest episode of the Manufacturing Leaders podcast, Mark is joined by Krystina Snowden, HR Manager at Blachford, for an honest and insightful conversation about what modern leadership really looks like - and why people-first cultures matter more than ever. Together they explore how leadership has evolved from command-and-control management to creating safe, supportive envi...

Send us Fan Mail In the latest episode of the Manufacturing Leaders podcast, we sit down with Gary Sheader, the driving force behind the Manufacturers Alliance, for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, personal growth, and what it really takes to lead in today’s manufacturing world. We dig into why employee engagement matters more than ever, how it directly impacts productivity, and what...

Send us Fan Mail This week on the Manufacturing Leaders Podcast we welcome Stephen Mitchell, the CEO of SQCDP, a company dedicated to enhancing operational efficiency in manufacturing environments through innovative software solutions.  With over 30 years of experience in manufacturing, Stephen has a rich professional history that includes significant leadership roles in well-known corporations, s...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we explore practical leadership that prioritises speed of decision-making, honest risk, and shared accountability - while empowering true experts to lead within their domain.  Graham dives into how dual career tracks, early STEM exposure, and well-defined business processes shape stronger teams and deliver better outcomes. We also discuss the importance of develop...

Send us Fan Mail Big news for our community: we’re taking the energy from 100+ conversations and turning it into the Manufacturing Leaders Summit, a purpose-driven day dedicated to real progress in UK manufacturing. On 30 April 2026, we’re gathering at New College Durham to bring together operators, founders, engineers, HR leaders and educators who want solutions that work in the real world. We’re...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we share how the 4-day working week went from idea to reality across multiple manufacturing sites. You’ll hear how we trialled the shift with people-first thinking, data-driven decisions, and flexibility at the heart of the process. We cover union conversations, contract changes, phased rollouts, and how we managed customer expectations and key performance indicat...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Paul Stockhill, Managing Director of Agemaspark, shares insights from his 55-year career in UK manufacturing. A passionate advocate for apprenticeships, Paul believes developing young talent is the key to solving the sector’s skills crisis and he has proven it. Every member of Agemaspark’s senior team started as an apprentice, including those who joined him in a s...

Send us Fan Mail From administrative temp to Head of People at Expanded Metal, Jo Lloyd shares her 12-year journey of transforming leadership in manufacturing. She explains how the industry has shifted from command-and-control management to a people-first approach. In this episode you will learn: Leadership is about guiding with collaboration, not ego Emotional intelligence drives better decisions...

Send us Fan Mail When a manufacturer doubles its workforce in just seven years despite industry-wide skills shortages, you know they’re doing something right. In this episode, Lorinda Lackay, Operations Director at Minicam, shares the strategies that have transformed this Salford-based wastewater inspection systems manufacturer. In this episode you will learn: How Lorinda’s early passion for engin...

Send us Fan Mail Dinosaur leather, lab-grown meat, and replacement corneas might sound like science fiction, but they’re happening now in Newcastle at 3D BioTissues. Adam Crosby, Director of Operations, shares how this Newcastle University spin-out is developing groundbreaking biological materials. In this episode you will learn: How 3D BioTissues produces pure biological materials without scaffol...

Send us Fan Mail Razan Alsous shares her journey from fleeing conflict in Syria to founding Yorkshire Dama Cheese, now one of the UK’s most celebrated artisan cheese brands. In this episode you will learn: How Razan started the business with just £2,500 and repurposed equipment How she identified a gap in the market for fresh, locally made halloumi How Yorkshire Dama has won over 65 awards, includ...

Send us Fan Mail Declan Middleton, Engineering Manager at Perry Process Equipment, shares his journey from reluctant work experience student to respected leader and details how one summer placement changed his career trajectory forever. In this episode: 🎮 Declan wanted to be a journalist, until his dad made him try engineering work experience instead. 👷‍♂️ From apprentice to Engineering Manager,...

Send us Fan Mail Matthew Pemrick, Managing Director of Cicor, shares his journey from apprentice to business leader and how endurance sports like Ironman have shaped his approach to resilient leadership. In this episode you will learn: How Matthew progressed from factory apprentice to MD and the lessons he learned along the way How endurance sports shaped his mental toughness and business resilien...

Send us Fan Mail Peter Cottle, Head of Supply Chain at Walker Filtration, shares insights on leadership and innovation in modern supply chains. In this episode you will learn: How accountability, emotional intelligence, and trust form the foundation of strong leadership How resilience is built through data visibility, early warning systems, and smart technology How sustainability and mentorship at...