Future-proofing your business starts with people, not pounds
Future-proofing your business starts with people, not pounds
With decades of experience working in manufacturing and engineering businesses as well as supporting SME manufacturers overcome their challenges, Liz McArdle, Innovation Manager for the SME Group at WMG explains why you don’t need a money tree to build long-term impact, just the right mindset.
In today’s fast-moving, uncertain environment, UK manufacturers face intense pressure.
From rising operational costs and supply chain uncertainty to the demands of digital transformation and the race to net zero, SMEs are feeling the strain.
But here’s the good news: futureproofing doesn’t have to mean big spending. Often, the most powerful investments are in your people, your culture and your capacity to adapt.
Leadership is the true differentiator
Strong managers keep things running efficiently. But great leaders create the conditions for long-term growth, especially in challenging times.
As the trading landscape shifts, visionary leadership is what enables SMEs to adapt, seize new opportunities, and stay resilient.
Research shows that investing in leadership capability leads to measurable improvements in productivity.
It’s not just about top-level ambition. A report from Make UK found that:
- 64% of SMEs see visionary leadership as “very important” to growth.
- 52% say the ability to deliver transformational change is crucial to scaling successfully.
A clear, compelling vision helps focus limited time, energy, and resources on what really matters. For SMEs, where capacity is often stretched, that focus can be the difference between surviving and thriving.
A clear direction builds competitive advantage
In today’s climate, staying competitive means more than just cutting costs. For manufacturers, it’s about:
- Streamlining operations.
- Launching new products or services.
- Adapting quickly to changing customer and market demands.
But these actions take more than strategy documents or one-off initiatives. They demand active, engaged leadership at every level: from the boardroom to the shopfloor.
That’s why leadership development must go beyond senior executives. Every team leader needs the skills to motivate, empower, and innovate with their teams. Only then can new ways of working and technology adoption truly take root.
A report by Make UK found that a lack of leadership and management capability remains one of the biggest barriers to innovation and productivity.
In other words, without the right leadership skills in place, even the best strategies can stall.
Culture shift, not quick fix
“Futureproofing isn’t about one-off intervention: it’s about building the right culture.” – Liz McArdle, Innovation Manager, WMG.
I’ve seen first-hand that exposing employees to leadership development; whether through formal training, mentoring, or hands-on experience, can trigger a powerful mindset shift.
And that shift is the foundation of future resilience.
When people are confident, curious, and open to learning, they’re more likely to:
- Embrace new tools and techniques.
- Tackle daily challenges proactively.
- Spot and act on long-term market opportunities.
This kind of adaptive, learning culture is essential, especially for SMEs who must stay agile and responsive to survive.
Use the support around you
Too often, SMEs try to do it all alone. But support is available, and underused!
A recent ERC report found that just 27% of companies engage with external business support, despite clear evidence that it improves productivity and innovation outcomes.
Across the region, tailored support is available to help SMEs adopt digital tools, transition to net zero, and build leadership capability. Whether it’s a peer network, funded training, or strategic mentoring, tapping into your local support ecosystem is one of the smartest ways to de-risk change and unlock growth.
Future-proofing starts now
"At WMG, I’ve co-curated a programme that supports future sustainable leaders at small or medium sized manufacturing businesses.” – Liz McArdle, Innovation Manager, WMG.
Through the programme, ambitious future leaders will be:
- Equipped with the skills to lead confidently.
- Learning skills to drive sustainable success.
- Hearing from industry experts about trends, challenges and strategies.
- Learning from WMG’s manufacturing experts with over 35 years of experience.
- Looking at leadership styles and how they can impact success.
We recently finished our pilot of the programme, and an independent report from The Insight Works found that:
- 82% of participants witnessed a positive impact on a personal barrier they had previously highlighted.
- 21 new tools, practices and techniques were introduced to the participants.
- 100% of participants would recommend the training to others.
“The training has been a transformative experience for participants and has delivered immediate benefits in their businesses.”
- The Insight Works
If you want to build a business that’s ready for tomorrow, start by investing in your people today.
Equip them with the tools, support, and mindset they need to lead, at every level, and watch how that unlocks not just better performance, but greater resilience, creativity, and long-term potential.
The future of manufacturing isn’t just about technology. It’s about leadership.
Want to invest in your people and secure the future of your factory? Get in touch today.