On 18th July 2023, the Manufacturers’ Alliance launched its 9th Peer Group to support small and medium sized manufacturing businesses based on the M56 corridor. The meeting was hosted by Nick Weeks at Carpenter Additive in Widnes and was attended by 8 local manufacturing businesses looking to join the new group. Nick showcased the possibilities with Metal Additive Manufacturing and how they are continually improving the performance of the Widnes plant.
The feedback was positive from the owners and managers of local manufacturing businesses. The practical take aways on how to implement business intelligence dashboards and how manufacturing businesses can improve profitability was well received. There was also encouraging feedback on the energy in the room and the openness of the group to want to support and challenge each other.
The Manufacturers’ Alliance plans to run a 2nd taster event at the Roberts Manufacturing site in Flint on 17th August with more businesses that are interested in joining the peer group. As the group will be capped at 12 members, there are only limited spaces for those interested in joining. Please register here if you would like to be considered for the new peer group.
Manufacturing since 1984 the Roberts Manufacturing Limited was created in 2018 to facilitate the continued growth of the long-established Polyroof Products Limited and Restec Limited. As industry leading manufacturers of liquid solutions, they have a proven track record of delivering high-quality from their state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities.
The new group will be facilitated by Catherine Smith, whose core expertise is in supporting businesses with leadership development and culture change. Her passion is in supporting and challenging leaders and their teams to lead, build great cultures, purposeful missions, and business models that are sustainable. Couple this with her long career in marketing and product development in the manufacturing sector, she is well placed to facilitate the development and ideas sharing with the progressive leaders engaged with the new peer group.
Why Join a Peer Group?
The pressures of running a small or medium sized manufacturing business in the UK are continuing to rise. You need to continue to adapt and improve if you want to stay in the game and survive. With the cost-of-living crisis and supply chain issues putting pressure on costs, and the uncertainty about the economic future in some sectors, having a group of manufacturing people who ‘get it’, that you can share ideas with is invaluable.
Customers who have been with the Manufacturers Alliance for the past 10 years would say that it’s a place that you can share things that you can’t share with others in the business, and sometimes not even with your loved ones at home. It’s a space for you, where you can be vulnerable and gain the support you need. They would also comment on the support from the wider manufacturing community of Manufacturers’ Alliance customers, and no matter what issues you have, someone from within the network is always willing to help.
If you would like to join the new M56 peer group or would like to explore the other types of support the Manufacturers’ Alliance offers, you can find out more here.
