Members, partners and stakeholders from the East Midlands Manufacturing Network – part of East Midlands Chamber – attended its second regional meeting to address areas like recruitment, latest research and challenges facing the sector.
Held at Toyota, Derby on 18th November, a series of talks and presentations took place, including insight from the Chamber, Make UK, Toyota, West Special Fasteners and Pennine Healthcare, after which delegates toured Toyota.
The East Midlands Manufacturing Network (EMMN) fosters innovation and collaboration across the sector and hosts frequent events.
East Midlands Chamber Deputy Chief Executive Diane Beresford opened the meeting. Speaking afterwards she said: “We’re proud of the East Midlands Manufacturing Network and my ambition today is to ensure the many businesses here share challenges with each other, share opportunities and actually do business together. If that’s one thing they do as a result of this regional meeting, that they build a relationship with a new person or a new company that’s the job done.”
East Midlands Manufacturing Network Chair Mark Goldby said: “We’ve got over 500 members within the East Midlands Manufacturing Network across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire and we all become connected, enjoy each other’s company and stories. Getting manufacturers together across the region is where the magic begins. It’s where people find they have something in common, that they could help each other.
“2025 has not been a normal year in terms of the challenges that manufacturers to grapple with. The big takeaway I get from events like this is we feel stronger and better together to face these challenges. We can learn from each other but also have some important people in the room listening, particularly the East Midlands Combined County Authority. At meetings like this we’re helping shape what we need as a sector.”
Pennine Healthcare Head of Operations Richard Cohen shared best practice examples in a presentation to delegates. Afterwards he said: “It’s fantastic to see so many people engaged and present at a meeting of this size. I think the East Midlands region as a whole is on the up. We’re looking for that kind of vision, future vision, along with the East Midlands Combined County Authority. To tie into that as a group of manufacturers in one room is superb.”
Speakers & Panelists:
- Diane Beresford – Deputy Chief Executive, East Midlands Chamber
- Richard Blackmore – Director of Policy and Insight, East Midlands Chamber
- Mark Goldby – Chair, East Midlands Manufacturing Network
- Simon Rowley – Senior Manager Operations Management Development & Productivity Planning, Toyota
- Damien Dacey – Executive Director for Strategy and Inclusive Growth, East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA)
- Simon Grass-Smith – Business Development Manager, West Special Fasteners
- Chris Corkan – Region Director, Make UK
