Manufacturing Leaders
Currently the Number 1 Manufacturing Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!
Mark Bracknall, Founder of Theo James Recruitment is the host of Manufacturing Leaders.
The UK is still a powerhouse in Manufacturing & Engineering. We speak to those who are helping to make those firms a success. By motivating, inspiring and managing teams.
Are you new to management? Are you keen to hear from those who are dealing with the same day-to-day challenges you are facing?
In this podcast we get inside the minds of the Managers in Manufacturing & Engineering, and understand how they get the best our of their teams and make Manufacturing & Engineering great.
Episodes
129 episodes
Lessons in Leadership, Succession and Building a Loyal Team
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....
AI, Automation and the Future of Engineering Leadership
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 t...
What the Best Leaders do Differently
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 large...
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Webinar: Employment Rights Act 2025: What HR Teams Need to do Now
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 span...
The Reality of Startup Life in Manufacturing & Engineering
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....
Leadership Without Ego: Why the Best Leaders Work from Within
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.
The Leadership Shift: Helping Engineers Step Up and Stand Out
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...
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172 Years of Leadership: Building a Business That Lasts
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...
Building a World-Class Business from the North East
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 Ri...
Unlocking the Secrets of Manufacturing Efficiency
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 foo...
What Great Leadership Really Looks Like in the Modern Workplace
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 ma...
How Leadership is Evolving in Manufacturing
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 ...
The Data Driven Decisions Transforming Operational Efficiency in Manufacturing
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 ...
The 5 Fundamental Processes Every Successful Business Gets Right
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...
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Big Announcement! Manufacturing Leaders Summit!
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 N...
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4 - Day Week Webinar
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 pro...
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Lessons From 55 Years In Industry
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 s...
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How Authenticity Drives Operational Excellence in Industry
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 appro...
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Diversity Fuels Innovation in Manufacturing
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 trans...
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Manufacturing T-REX Leather
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 developin...
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From Syria to the UK: Founding an Award Winning Cheese Brand
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 ...
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The Impact of Early Industry Exposure on Future Talent
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...
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Don't wait for your boat to come ashore, swim out and reach it - from Apprentice to M.D
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:H...
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Building Resilient Supply Chains in a Volatile World
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 th...
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How to Unlock Your Teams Full Potential
Daniel Stanway, transformational business coach and former manufacturing leader, shares how real change begins with identity, mindset, and trust. Learn how to create a culture where people don’t just comply, they commit.In this episod...
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