The Manufacturer Podcast

Here is the final episode of our People & Skills series - just for you, listener. After we catch-up with one another following Smart Manufacturing Week, we discuss some of the big news of the week. Starting with the announcement of the UK's long awaited Industrial Strategy. We also point you in the direction of some other stories on The Manufacturer website, a couple of which relate to Int...

We recorded this podcast from the show floor at Smart Manufacturing Week at the NEC in Birmingham. We spoke with Geunther Steiner at the show, who many fans of Formula One will be familiar with. Geunther is the former Team Principal of the Haas Formula One team, and a star of the Netflix documentary 'Drive to Survive'. Part of his interview can be heard in this episode. The team also run t...

The Manufacturer Podcast is back after a lengthy absence. The Q2 edition of The Manufacturer Magazine and a long list of events and editorial visits have been the reason for this. But we're back with a crash, a bang, and a wallop! As we pay a visit to robot battling Accu in Huddersfield. They'll be bringing their own version of Robot Wars to Smart Manufacturing Week in a couple of weeks. But first...

In this episode of The Manufacturer Archives, we have an interview with Paul Brooks, Manufacturing Lead at the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade. This was recorded in late April of 2025, when the situation on global tariffs on US exports was uncertain, before the UK and the US struck a tariff deal. Paul discusses what businesses should consider in the wake of future uncertain...

Another great episode made lovingly for your ears, listener. Automotive features heavily here, with visits to two iconic UK plants; Nissan in Sunderland and Ford Dagenham. We attended an event marking 10 years of the Nissan Skills Foundation, where 200 school kids from the North East flooded the factory floor to build 300 cars out of LEGO. And Molly visited the historic Ford Dagenham site, where a...

Hi listener, a bumper episode for you to get your ears around. President Trump's comprehensive outlining of trade tariffs imposed on all goods coming into America was announced this week. Hear our reaction and the reaction of UK manufacturers from some of the sectors most impacted. And, as this is the first episode of our People & Skills Series, we wanted to put a spotlight on apprenticesh...

In this episode of The Manufacturer Archives, we feature Professor Mike Capaldi, Chair of Driving the Electric Revolution Industrialisation Centres. He discusses the need to place Power Electronics, Machines and Drives (PEMD) at the heart of the UK's green energy strategy, and tells us what DER-IC's role will be in that process.

In this episode of The Manufacturer Archives, we feature the cover story of the Q1 edition of The Manufacturer Magazine. Charlie Kingsley is the Corporate Sustainability Manager at Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I. In this interview he discusses the company's varied and growing sustainability initiatives, and how sustainable manufacturing is central to everything they do.

This episode of The Manufacturer Archives features one of our interviews from National Apprenticeships Week. We hear from India-Grace Humphries, a second-year sustainability consultant apprentice working at Schneider Electric. India talks about her current role and her route into the industry. She also discusses how the apprenticeship route has really worked for her, and what she believes companie...

We have the final episode in our Sustainability Series, specially prepared for your ears, listener. Our podcast sponsors, Kingspan Insulation, make a number of products from their facility in Pembridge, which are used to insulate buildings of all kinds. We paid them a visit. Managing Director of The Manufacturer, Grace Gilling, gives a 60 second rundown of sustainability at Smart Manufacturing Wee...

This episode of Archives features Richard Lloyd. Richard has held managing positions at the likes of Accolade Wines at The Park in Bristol, and Encirc Beverages in Cheshire. He is an expert in Lean Operations, and has driven large sustainability projects at his previous companies. Richard gives us some of his reflections and experiences as a leader. As well as his successful entries in our Manufac...

In this episode of The Manufacturer Archives, Andrew Frankland makes another appearance, as ForestNation return to Smart Manufacturing Week this year as the show's sustainability partner. Hear this full version of Andrew's interview, part of which featured on the Sustainability Series of The Manufacturer Podcast.

Another top episode of The Manufacturer Podcast for your ears. Richard Lloyd speaks to us about his experiences at the likes of Accolade Wines at The Park and Encirc Beverages. He was part of several successful award wins at The Manufacturer MX Awards, and he has led on numerous sustainability initiatives at both companies. We also feature Professor Henrik Von Scheel, who will be a keynote speaker...

Hi there, listener. Get your ears around this tremendous podcast episode. The third in our Sustainability Series, sponsored by Kingspan Insulation. The UK's tyre manufacturers, including Michelin in Stoke on Trent, are urging their customers not to buy cheaper, single-use tyres that are flooding the UK. Michelin says that retread tyres are the way forward, find out why... Mike Capaldi, of Driv...

Loads more for your eager ears in this episode, listener. We hear about Joe's trip to Paris to visit Exotec, a company that has just released the next generation of its Skypod system. Take a sneaky listen to part of an interview that we're running as our lead feature in the Q1 issue of The Manufacturer Magazine. It's with Charlie Kingsley, Corporate Sustainability Manager for Suntory B...

Dear lord, listener. We cover some serious ground in this bumper episode. We're delighted to welcome new podcast sponsors Kingspan Insulation along as sponsors for this Sustainability series. Keep an ear for more from them. In this episode, Kingsland Drinks talk us through making their bulk wine and spirits packing, bottling and distribution process as sustainable as possible. Also hear from a...

In this episode of The Manufacturer Archives, Tim Gaus, Deloitte’s General Manager for Smart Manufacturing, shares optimistic predictions for 2025.   Last year was widely regarded as a mixed year for global manufacturing. These predictions for the year ahead are referenced in Deloitte’s 2025 Manufacturing Industry Outlook. Tim points out in this interview, that these predictions are routed in the...

Hello listener, and happy New Year! (when is the cut off point for wishing people a happy New Year?) We present you with a full rundown of the year ahead, with a month-by-month to do list. We've been off over Christmas, but the news certainly hasn't. From the New Years Honours List to the Guinness shortage, plenty of stories have caught our eye. And if anyone is attempting dry January this month,...

Merry Christmas to you, listener. We hope you're winding down and have a nice break to look forward to. How about a podcast to help you on your way? In this episode, we talk about Christmas - unsurprisingly. We also discuss our highlights from this year, and point you in the direction of some good reads over Christmas on The Manufacturer website.

We bring a brilliant series to an end in this latest episode. We do our best to recall exactly what happened in the aftermath of a wonderful Manufacturer MX Awards ceremony last week. The government comes under scrutiny following a powerful message from the Confederation of British Metalforming (CBM) . And in this week's Made by a Moron; fireworks, and a man recently in the news for being "a bit o...

Hello listener, this special episode of The Manufacturer Podcast was recorded on day two of The Manufacturer Live, at The Titanic Hotel in Liverpool. With Manufacturing Leaders' Summit roundtable discussion sessions going on behind them, the team talk through some of the news stories from the last week. We also have a chat with some people that were part of this week's event, including our Leaders...

Here it is! The latest episode of The Manufacturer Podcast. Our series sponsors ERIKS discuss the current trends in UK supply chains, and the company's goal to provide accurate, efficient and effective supply to customers. Sally Hill, Chief Operating Officer, and Paul Lynch, Business Development Director join us in this episode. In addition to this, we talk through some of the current attitudes an...

Loads of great stuff for you in this latest episode, listener. A trip to GKN Aerospace delves into some of the challenges facing the sector. Is last week's US election result good for business here in the UK? What does Donald Trump round two mean for US and global manufacturing? Find out why Joe was in Belfast, and what Molly found out about the Food and Drink Federation's call for SME support aro...

Episode three of our series on Supply Chains - give us those ears, listener. Hear what we make of some of the finer details of the Autumn Budget announced by the government this week. Bad for SMEs? Or could it be worse? Find out what some of our manufacturing community make of it. And a delve into the food and beverage industry, with takeaways from The Food and Drink Federation's (FDF) sustainabil...

We've got plenty for your ears in this episode, listener. We managed to line-up an interview with Sarah Jones MP, Minister of State at both the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and the Department for Business and Trade. This follows the announcement of the government's Invest 2035 proposal - the UK's modern industrial strategy. Before that though, there's news on our various trips to A...