Manufacturing Uncensored

Manufacturing Needs More Veterans | Manufacturing Uncensored Ep14 | James Cameron
Brought to you by Automate UK Week 2027!
James Cameron is CEO of Mission Motorsport, a former Army officer and someone who has spent much of his career helping people rebuild their lives after leaving the Armed Forces.
From motorsport and the military to manufacturing and defence, this episode gets into leadership, purpose, resilience and why some of the skills UK industry desperately needs already exist in people we often overlook.
We get into:- James' journey from the Army to founding Mission Motorsport- Building Mission Motorsport and the reality behind it- What motorsport can teach us about teams and performance- Why veterans can be an incredible fit for manufacturing and engineering- Leadership when the consequences actually matter- The relationship between UK manufacturing and defenceand lots more...
🎧 You can also listen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/2xHHzJltQJrWs7Iydb4Esu
HostsThomas Flude, Co-Founder Engineers Insight, Chairman UK Automation Forum:https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-flude-engineersinsight/James Causebrook, MD Grunwald Ltd & Chairman Automate UK:https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-causebrook-b8701161/
GuestJames Cameron, CEO & Founder, Mission Motorsporthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/james-cameron-26422a7/

BTS: The PPMA Show | Manufacturing Uncensored Ep13 | Scott McKenna & Natalie Charlton
Brought to you by The PPMA Show 2026!
Scott McKenna and Natalie Charlton are two of the people behind Automate UK's very own PPMA Show. Visitors see three days at the NEC, but behind the scenes there's an entire year of planning, problem solving and plenty of last-minute chaos that goes into making it happen.
We get into:- What it actually takes to build the PPMA Show- The biggest fires they've had to put out over the years- What exhibitors get wrong when preparing for shows- Why exhibitions are still so important - What Automate UK does during the other 362 days of the yearand lots more!
You can watch the episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/PLs8Fqz-2qw
HostsTom Flude, Co-Founder Engineers Insight, Chairman UK Automation Forum:https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-flude-engineersinsight/
James Causebrook, MD Grunwald & Chairman Automate UK:https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-causebrook-b8701161/
GuestsScott McKenna, Chief Operating Officer, Automate UK:https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottmckenna1/
Natalie Charlton, Head of Sales, Automate UK:https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-charlton-775652143/
Looking for Events this year?Visit The PPMA Show 2026, register for free here:https://forms.reg.buzz/ppma-show-2026-visitor/manufacturing-uncensored

Transforming Pukka Pies | Manufacturing Uncensored Ep12 | Tim Jackson
Brought to you by The PPMA Show 2026!
Tim Jackson is Transformation Director at Pukka and has built an incredible career in food manufacturing, working his way from the factory floor to senior leadership roles across some of the UK's biggest manufacturers.
We get into:
- Transforming processes at Pukka while protecting what makes the business special- Building and leading great teams- What Tim's learnt working alongside global CEOs- Working your way up from the factory floor- Why his career hasn't been down to luck- Leadership lessons from a career in manufacturing  and lots more!
🎧 You can also listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xHHzJltQJrWs7Iydb4Esu
HostsTom Flude, Co-Founder Engineers Insight, Chairman UK Automation Forum:https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-flude-engineersinsight/
James Causebrook, MD Grunwald & Chairman Automate UK:https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-causebrook-b8701161/
GuestTim Jackson, Transformation Director, Pukka:https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-jackson-18b2a695/
Looking for Events this year?Visit The PPMA Show 2026, register for free here:https://forms.reg.buzz/ppma-show-2026-visitor/manufacturing-uncensored

AI will make salespeople redundant | Manufacturing Uncensored Ep11 | Steve Lindsey
Brought to you by The PPMA Show 2026!
Steve Lindsey is Event Director of the National Sales Conference and Manufacturing Revenue Growth Summit, helping businesses and sales teams improve the way they sell.
We get into:- Whether AI will make average salespeople redundant- Why manufacturing has such a strange relationship with sales- What actually makes someone good at selling- Why relationships and listening still matter- Nearly losing everything and lots more!
🎧 You can also watch on YouTube, here: https://youtu.be/J_-JjJpWnc0
HostsTom Flude, Co-Founder Engineers Insight, Chairman UK Automation Forum:https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-flude-engineersinsight/
James Causebrook, MD Grunwald & Chairman Automate UK:https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-causebrook-b8701161/
GuestsSteve Lindsey, Event Director, National Sales Conference & Manufacturing Revenue Growth Summithttps://www.linkedin.com/in/stevelindseylincolnwest/
Samantha Smith, Projects & Operations Director, Grunwald Ltd:https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-smith-a4924165/
Looking for Events this year?Visit The PPMA Show 2026, register for free here:https://forms.reg.buzz/ppma-show-2026-visitor/manufacturing-uncensored

Lady in a man's world | Manufacturing Uncensored Ep10
Brought to you by The PPMA Show 2026!
Sam Smith started her career in recruitment before joining Grunwald in 2010 in a telemarketing role. 15 years later, she's Operations & Project Director and has played a huge part in building the business alongside James Causebrook.
We get into:- Going from telemarketing to company director- Learning manufacturing from the ground up- What good leadership actually looks like- Causebrook Smith venture- The reality behind building a successful businessand lots more!
🎧 You can also listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xHHzJltQJrWs7Iydb4Esu
HostsTom Flude, Co-Founder Engineers Insight, Chairman UK Automation Forum:https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-flude-engineersinsight/
James Causebrook, MD Grunwald & Chairman Automate UK:https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-causebrook-b8701161/
GuestsSamantha Smith, Projects & Operations Director, Grunwald Ltd: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-smith-a4924165/
Looking for Events this year?Visit The PPMA Show 2026, register for free here:https://forms.reg.buzz/ppma-show-2026-visitor/manufacturing-uncensored

35 Years in Manufacturing | Manufacturing Uncensored Ep9
 
Brought to you by The PPMA Show 2026!
 
Richard Little is the Managing Director of Jenton International and has spent more than 35 years building a successful manufacturing business. Along the way he's developed innovative products, navigated economic highs and lows, and become a familiar face across the UK manufacturing community through his passion for exhibitions and the industry as a whole.
 
We get into:
- Building a manufacturing business from the ground up
- Lessons from 35 years in industry
- Why exhibitions still matter
- Innovation and entrepreneurship
- The future of UK manufacturing
- Life as a business owner
and lots more!
 
You can watch the full episode on YouTube, here: https://youtu.be/1pUE4hDk2NI
 
Hosts
Tom Flude, Co-Founder Engineers Insight, Chairman UK Automation Forum:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-flude-engineersinsight/
 
James Causebrook, MD Grunwald & Chairman Automate UK:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-causebrook-b8701161/
 
Guests
Richard Little, Managing Director Jenton International:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-little-jenton/
 
Looking for Events this year?
Visit The PPMA Show 2026, register for free here:
https://forms.reg.buzz/ppma-show-2026-visitor/manufacturing-uncensored

Manufacturing Uncensored: Ep8
No safe answers. No PR.
 
We want the honest truth from our industry - even if it ruffles a few feathers.
 
Brought to you by Automate UK and Engineers Insight.
Sponsored by The PPMA Show 2026!
 
This episode: Marketing in Manufacturing: The badass chicken.
 
Bianca De Bono is the Founder of De Bono Marketing and has been a leader in brand marketing for over 30 years. She's worked with household names across leisure, food & drink, automotive and apparel, as well as managing the re-brand of PPMA to become Automate UK.
You can find them here: https://www.debonomarketing.com/clients
 
We get into:
- Why manufacturers are poor at marketing
- How to stand out
- Where to be posting
- Brands that get it right
and lots more!
 
You can watch the full episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/p_BXrS0h-kI
 
Hosts
Tom Flude, Co-Founder Engineers Insight, Chairman UK Automation Forum:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-flude-engineersinsight/
 
James Causebrook, MD Grunwald & Chairman Automate UK:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-causebrook-b8701161/
 
Guests
Bianca De Bono, Founder De Bono Marketing:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bianca-de-bono/
 
Looking for Events this year?
Visit The PPMA Show 2026, register for free here:
https://forms.reg.buzz/ppma-show-2026-visitor/manufacturing-uncensored

Manufacturing Uncensored: Ep7
No safe answers. No PR.
We want the honest truth from our industry - even if it ruffles a few feathers.
 
Brought to you by  @theautomate-uk   and  @EngineersInsightApp .
Sponsored by The PPMA Show 2026!
 
This episode: The truth behind robot integration
Peter Shafe is Director of OmanTec, a robot and automation integrator based in Guildford, England. He has decades of manufacturing experience and opens up about everything from barriers to entry to what keeps him up at night.
 
We get into:
- Difficulties SME's face
- Accessing finance
- Realities of owning a business
- How do we change the perceptions of automation
- How trade associations can help
and lots more!
 
🎧 You can also listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xHHzJltQJrWs7Iydb4Esu
 
Hosts
Tom Flude, Co-Founder Engineers Insight, Chairman UK Automation Forum:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-flude-engineersinsight/
 
James Causebrook, MD Grunwald & Chairman Automate UK:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-causebrook-b8701161/
 
Guests
Peter Shafe, Director, OmnaTec:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-shafe-automation-robotics/
 
Looking for Events this year?
Visit The PPMA Show 2026, register for free here:
https://forms.reg.buzz/ppma-show-2026-visitor/manufacturing-uncensored

Manufacturing Uncensored: Ep6
No safe answers. No PR.
We want the honest truth from our industry - even if it ruffles a few feathers.
Brought to you by  @theautomate-uk   and  @EngineersInsightApp .
This episode: Meet the CEO of Automate UK
Dan brings with him a breadth of knowledge from industry, holding senior positions in multiple well known manufacturers. He now heads up the Automate UK trade association, driving forward the message to industry that to compete with our global competitors, we must automate.
We get into:- What challenges are UK manufacturers facing- How does industry turn it around- How to compete with China- Do we need to inspire or hire- Life as a CEOand lots more!
🎧 You can also listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xHHzJltQJrWs7Iydb4Esu
HostsTom Flude, Co-Founder Engineers Insight, Chairman UK Automation Forum:https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-flude-engineersinsight/
James Causebrook, MD Grunwald & Chairman Automate UK:https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-causebrook-b8701161/
GuestsDan Thombs, CEO Automate UK:https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-thombs-a139041aa/
Looking for Events this year?There's a big one to visit this summer!Smart Manufacturing Week at the NEC sees around 13,500 of your peers through the doors! Come and see for yourself, June 3rd & 4th!Here's how to join us, for free: https://forms.reg.buzz/smw-splash-2026?utm_source=EngineersInsight&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=SMW26

Manufacturing Uncensored: Ep5
No safe answers. No PR.
We want the honest truth from our industry - even if it ruffles a few feathers.
Brought to you by Automate UK and Engineers Insight.
This episode: Apprenticeships - A missed opportunity?
Everyone talks about the skills gap.
But what does it actually feel like coming into the industry as an apprentice?
We sit down with two apprentices, Tobi Garrett and Kathryn Ray, to talk about what’s really going on at the start of engineering careers.
Not the corporate messaging - the reality.
We get into:
What it’s actually like being an apprentice in UK manufacturingWhether apprentices are getting real support - or just expected to get on with itThe gap between what industry says… and what young engineers experienceThe fear of a skills gap when experienced engineers are retiringMoney, confidence, and figuring things out early
If you think the skills gap is just about hiring more people… you’re missing the bigger picture.
You can find the video episode here:
https://youtu.be/LJHkka0mEP4
HostsTom Flude, Co-Founder Engineers Insight, Chairman UK Automation Forum:https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-flude-engineersinsight/
James Causebrook, MD Grunwald & Chairman Automate UK:https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-causebrook-b8701161/
GuestsTobi Garrett, Validation Technician Apprentice,  @DominoPrintingUK :https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobi-garrett-74b41a310/
Kathryn Ray, Software Engineering Degree Apprentice, Jenton Ggroup :https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-ray-6a974b2b0/
Looking for Events this year?There's a big one to visit this summer!Smart Manufacturing Week at the NEC is the main stay in our calendar, along with 13,500 others! June 3rd & 4th!Here's how to join us, for free: https://forms.reg.buzz/smw-splash-2026?utm_source=EngineersInsight&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=SMW26