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.

Manufacturing Leaders is a business podcast hosted by Mark Bracknall, with 133 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Mark Bracknall hosts Manufacturing Leaders, a business show with 133 episodes published.

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  Episode #24

  How to Lead When You’re the Youngest in the Room

  Oct 1, 202652 minS12

  Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Manufacturing Leaders Podcast, Mark welcomes Laura Black, UK Director of Sales at Smithers Oasis, to talk about sales, leadership and the lessons she has learned throughout her career. Laura shares how she went from studying law to door-to-door sales, and then to leading teams at a young age. She reflects on how hearing “no” early in her career helped her build resilience and taught her to listen closely to what customers need. Mark and Laura discuss why trust and honesty matter in sales, and how Laura has adapted her approach to managing people. She talks about using tools such as Myers-Briggs to better understand herself and her team, as well as recognising when taking on too much was leading her towards burnout. The conversation also covers her experience as a woman in leadership, finding balance as her career has grown, and the work Smithers Oasis is doing on more sustainable products. If you work in sales or lead a team, Laura’s reflections offer plenty to take away! Please like and subscribe - it genuinely helps grow the show and, in turn, helps push the industry forward. Theo James is a Manufacturing & Engineering Recruiter based in the North East, helping Manufacturing and Engineering firms grow across the UK. If you’d like more information about Theo James, feel free to get in touch with the team or Mark anytime. You can call us on 0191 511 1298 .

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  Episode #23

  Andy Nisevic: From Toxic Leadership to Lasting Change

  Sep 17, 202646 minS12

  Send us Fan Mail In this latest episode of the Manufacturing Leaders Podcast, Mark welcomes Andy Nisevic, founder of One Degree Training & Coaching, for an open and honest conversation about toxic leadership, mental health and personal change. After serving in the RAF for 23 years, Andy went on to train and coach leaders and leadership teams. However, his work today is also shaped by his own difficult experiences. Andy reflects on reaching a low point in 2018, when he was diagnosed with depression and recognised that stress, impatience and a lack of time had caused him to become what he describes as a "toxic leader." The conversation explores how good people can develop toxic leadership traits, why the label does not always tell the full story and how pressure can gradually influence the way someone leads. Andy also discusses the importance of humility, acknowledging mistakes and having the difficult conversations needed to create meaningful change. For senior leaders in manufacturing and engineering, the episode offers an honest look at how toxic behaviours take hold, how to recognise them and how leaders can begin to break the cycle. This is a powerful episode about self-awareness, accountability and becoming a better leader. Do not miss it. Please like and subscribe - it genuinely helps grow the show and, in turn, helps push the industry forward. Theo James is a Manufacturing & Engineering Recruiter based in the North East, helping Manufacturing and Engineering firms grow across the UK. If you’d like more information about Theo James, feel free to get in touch with the team or Mark anytime. You can call us on 0191 511 1298 .

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  Episode #21

  Katie O'Brien: Changing Culture in a 100-Year-Old Manufacturing Business

  Jul 23, 202650 minS12

  Send us Fan Mail In this latest episode of the Manufacturing Leaders Podcast, Mark welcomes Katie O’Brien, General Manager of HR at Komatsu, to discuss leadership, workplace culture and the complexities of creating change within a well-established manufacturing business. The conversation explores the qualities Katie believes are essential in effective leaders, including curiosity, judgement and commitment. Katie explains how these traits can influence leadership decisions, strengthen relationships and help create a more positive culture throughout an organisation. She also discusses the challenges involved in transforming long-established leadership styles and the importance of encouraging leaders to remain open, ask questions and understand the experiences of their teams. The episode explores employee engagement, meaningful work and what businesses can do to create an environment where people feel valued, supported and fulfilled. Katie shares valuable insight into how leadership behaviours shape workplace culture and why lasting change requires commitment from leaders at every level of an organisation. Don't miss this one! We have recently launched the Manufacturing Leaders Community! If you are an MD, CEO, Operations Director, Plant Manager, Engineering Director, HR Director or Supply Chain leader working in manufacturing and engineering across the North East, Yorkshire and beyond, this is open to you! Click here to learn more and get on the waiting list . Please like and subscribe - it genuinely helps grow the show and, in turn, helps push the industry forward. Theo James is a Manufacturing & Engineering Recruiter based in the North East, helping Manufacturing and Engineering firms grow across the UK. If you’d like more information about Theo James, feel free to get in touch with the team or Mark anytime. You can call us on 0191 511 1298 .

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  Episode #20

  The Leadership Lessons Hidden Inside the Net Zero Transition

  Jul 9, 202646 minS12

  Send us Fan Mail In this latest episode of the Manufacturing Leaders Podcast, Mark Bracknall welcomes Gareth Kane, Managing Director of Terra Infirma, sustainability consultant, author, and host of the Net Zero Business Podcast, to discuss sustainability leadership, organisational change, and achieving meaningful environmental progress. The conversation explores Gareth's journey into sustainability and the lessons he has learned from over twenty years of helping businesses implement effective environmental strategies. Gareth emphasises the critical role leadership plays in delivering successful sustainability initiatives, explaining why organisations must understand their own unique business case for sustainability rather than adopting a one-size-fits-all approach. He also discusses the psychology of organisational change and why engaging teams in the process is essential for long-term success. The episode explores how businesses of all sizes, from major organisations to manufacturing SMEs, are adopting innovative approaches to sustainability while creating commercial value. This is an episode you do not want to miss! You can connect with Gareth on LinkedIn here . Please like and subscribe - it genuinely helps grow the show and, in turn, helps push the industry forward. Theo James is a Manufacturing & Engineering Recruiter based in the North East, helping Manufacturing and Engineering firms grow across the UK. If you’d like more information about Theo James, feel free to get in touch with the team or Mark anytime. You can call us on 0191 511 1298 .

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  Episode #19

  Lessons in Leadership, Succession and Building a Loyal Team

  Jun 25, 202642 minS12

  Send us Fan Mail 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. The conversation explores Guy’s journey within a business built on generations of expertise, tracing York Handmade Brick’s evolution from its founding in 1988 to becoming a recognised name in the production of premium handmade and bespoke bricks. Guy shares insights into the responsibility of carrying forward a family legacy while continuing to adapt and grow in a rapidly changing industry. Guy discusses the challenges of leading a manufacturing business in today’s environment, from embracing new technologies and improving production efficiency to maintaining the quality and craftsmanship that define the company’s work. Listeners will gain an authentic insight into the realities of running a family-owned manufacturing business, the importance of adapting to change, and the values required to build a successful organisation that stands the test of time. This is an episode you do not want to miss! Click here to connect with Guy on LinkedIn . Please like and subscribe - it genuinely helps grow the show and, in turn, helps push the industry forward. Theo James is a Manufacturing & Engineering Recruiter based in the North East, helping Manufacturing and Engineering firms grow across the UK. If you’d like more information about Theo James, feel free to get in touch with the team or Mark anytime. You can call us on 0191 511 1298 .

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