Shaping the future of manufacturing with WMG's leadership programme
How WMG's new leadership programme is helping to develop the next generation of manufacturing leaders.
Challenge: The leadership gap in manufacturing
With so many challenges facing manufacturers today, from energy hikes to understanding AI, it’s easy to be distracted from what can make or break a manufacturing business: strong leadership at all levels of the organisation.
WMG’s manufacturing experts identified a gap in the market and noticed a lack of attention and focus on leadership development within the manufacturing sector.
With over 40 years of combined experience working within the manufacturing community, Liz McArdle (Innovation Manager) and Gun Gokmen (Technology Transfer Engineer) saw an opportunity to support SME manufacturing businesses by equipping their future leaders with critical leadership skills.
"Today, leadership skills matter more than ever."
Gun Gokmen, Technology Transfer Engineer, WMG.
“Leadership is the key to addressing many contemporary organisational challenges. People aren’t always born leaders; they can be made. Like a muscle, leadership can be strengthened with learning, experience and perseverance.”
Solution: Developing future sustainable manufacturing leaders
Liz and Gun collaborated with West Midlands-based Sustainability West Midlands, Innovation Alliance, Innovate UK and West Midlands Combined Authority to create the ‘Developing Future Sustainable Manufacturing Leaders’ programme.
This four-month initiative brought together a cohort of eleven emerging leaders from eight manufacturing businesses, offering fully funded leadership training that might otherwise have been out of reach.
The programme aimed to:
- Raise leadership awareness: Highlight the importance of great leadership within the manufacturing sector and inspire others to strive for it.
- Bridge the knowledge gap: Demonstrate how leadership skills can drive positive change at all levels of the workplace.
- Encourage innovative thinking: Equip participants with tools for quicker adaptation and increased innovation, crucial for a manufacturing business to thrive in an uncertain market.
Held in person at WMG, the University of Warwick, the programme took the attendees through four key leadership topics:
- Lead Yourself: understand how your traits, values, and ‘leadership muscles’ influence your actions, both at work and beyond.
- Lead the Team: explore leadership in a team setting, from building and developing a strong team to effectively managing change and stakeholders.
- Lead the Business: learn how to lead in a business context by aligning strategy, making effective decisions and creating an inclusive environment where people thrive.
- Lead the Future: focus on the future by driving innovation through leadership; understanding its importance and how to identify opportunities, manage risks, and ensure sustainable growth for the future.
The attendees also chose specific topics to look at in more detail, learning new skills and applying them in their own workplaces before returning to discuss their progress with the group at consolidation day events.
During the different training sessions, the group had chance to hear real-life examples of the effectiveness of great leadership, with speakers from the wider manufacturing community. The group worked together through interactive discussions about the course, their own experiences and future leadership challenges.
“Through this programme, I’ve not only gained valuable leadership skills but also deepened my self-awareness, resilience and ability to drive meaningful change.”
Febry Wardhana, participant from Midtherm.
Impact: "It opened my eyes to new ways of thinking
In February 2025, all eleven participants celebrated the successful completion of the programme. Both the participants and their sponsors back at their respective companies recognised the remarkable progress since joining the initiative, from increased confidence to a deeper understanding of leadership principles.
“The course was great! It was insightful, not just into leadership skills but sustainability within manufacturing. It opened my eyes into new ways of thinking.” Charlie Adlem, participant from JDD Furniture.
The pilot programme equipped future leaders with the skills to lead confidently and drive sustainable success in manufacturing.
“I totally recommend this programme; it takes you comfortably outside your comfort zone and helps you to understand your own traits and how these are perceived by others.” Jacqui Ward, participant from Anopol.
Jacqui’s sponsor, David Cass from Anopol, said: “This professional programme was delivered to Jacqui by knowledgeable and experienced manufacturing leaders. We’ve visibly noticed the value of it, with Jacqui demonstrating new team and project leadership skills, as well as personal growth all directly linked to her learning.”
“Whilst jumping out of her comfort zone, Jacqui has clearly enjoyed the experience, learnt a lot from it and had fun along the way.”
David Cass, participant sponsor from Anopol.
Liz McArdle, Innovation Manager at WMG, who worked on developing and delivering the programme said: "The level of engagement from the participants throughout the sessions, showed that leadership is an important and relevant subject to future manufacturing leaders. It was great to work with the participants, in particular seeing them pushing their boundaries and enhancing their leadership skills."
WMG's fully funded Future Sustainable Manufacturing Leaders Programme was developed with manufacturers, for manufacturers, and was created in collaboration with Sustainability West Midlands, Innovation Alliance for the West Midlands, Innovate UK and West Midlands Combined Authority.
Could someone at your business benefit from this leadership programme? Email WMGSME@warwick.ac.uk to learn more!
Develop your future leaders with WMG: Complete our WMG SME engagement form here.
Read more about how the SME Group at WMG are securing the future of manufacturing: