--- title: Welcome to the Manufacturers' Alliance - Aspiring Directors Peer Group description: We’re delighted to have you as part of the community! By joining the Aspiring Directors Peer Group, you’re now connected with like-minded peers who share the same commitment to growth, learning, and collaboration. image: https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hubfs/Peer%20group%202-2.png --- [![MA_Master_RGB-2](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/MA_Master_RGB-2.jpg?width=2000&height=617&name=MA_Master_RGB-2.jpg "MA_Master_RGB-2")](https://www.manufacturersalliance.co.uk) # Welcome to the Manufacturers' Alliance Community --- ![Peer group 2-2](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Peer%20group%202-2.png?width=985&height=575&name=Peer%20group%202-2.png "Peer group 2-2") We’re delighted to have you as part of the community! By joining the Aspiring Directors Peer Group, you’re now connected with like-minded peers who share the same commitment to growth, learning, and collaboration. The peer group provides a space to share challenges, exchange ideas, and gain insight from peers who understand the same challenges and ambitions. We can’t wait to see you grow and develop as a leader and break through the boundaries of possibility. ![Untitled design - 2025-11-13T121816.424](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202025-11-13T121816.424.png "Untitled design - 2025-11-13T121816.424") # Overview of Your Membership Package **Full Day Meetings – 9 per year** Meet with like-minded people to share business best practice in; leadership, business growth, employee engagement & change management. No meetings during August & December. **360 Leadership - 1 Profile** **Per Year** Receive 360 feedback on your leadership style based on the Manufacturers’ Alliance behavioural assessment tool. **1-2-1 Online Support** Gain online support from an experienced business coach & mentor to help you through the challenges that are holding you back. **Annual Conference Attendance – 1 per year** Listen and discuss with other business leaders how they are managing growth and achieving their stretching aspirations. **Access to all webinars & roundtable discussions** Attend online and face to face thought leadership events covering the burning topics affecting the Manufacturers’ Alliance members. # Meeting Dates ![Untitled design - 2025-11-12T170335.570](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202025-11-12T170335.570.png?width=2000&height=1500&name=Untitled%20design%20-%202025-11-12T170335.570.png "Untitled design - 2025-11-12T170335.570") **20th January 2026** BCA Group ![Untitled design - 2025-11-12T170752.894](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202025-11-12T170752.894.png?width=2000&height=1500&name=Untitled%20design%20-%202025-11-12T170752.894.png "Untitled design - 2025-11-12T170752.894") **17th February 2026** Central Group ![Untitled design - 2025-11-12T171039.750](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202025-11-12T171039.750.png?width=2000&height=1500&name=Untitled%20design%20-%202025-11-12T171039.750.png "Untitled design - 2025-11-12T171039.750") **March 2026** Host TBC ![Untitled design - 2025-11-13T115107.169](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202025-11-13T115107.169.png?width=2000&height=1500&name=Untitled%20design%20-%202025-11-13T115107.169.png "Untitled design - 2025-11-13T115107.169") **21st April 2026** Host TBC ![IMG_E2352](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/IMG_E2352.jpg?width=2000&height=1500&name=IMG_E2352.jpg "IMG_E2352") **13th May 2026** Manufacturers' Alliance Annual Conference 2026 ![Untitled design - 2025-11-12T162208.561](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202025-11-12T162208.561.png?width=2000&height=1500&name=Untitled%20design%20-%202025-11-12T162208.561.png "Untitled design - 2025-11-12T162208.561") **16th Jun 2026** Host TBC ![Untitled design - 2025-11-12T162318.111](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202025-11-12T162318.111.png?width=2000&height=1500&name=Untitled%20design%20-%202025-11-12T162318.111.png "Untitled design - 2025-11-12T162318.111") **14th Jul 2026** Host TBC ![Untitled design - 2025-11-13T115411.465](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202025-11-13T115411.465.png?width=2000&height=1500&name=Untitled%20design%20-%202025-11-13T115411.465.png "Untitled design - 2025-11-13T115411.465") **22nd Sept 2026** Host TBC ![Untitled design - 2025-11-13T115540.691](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202025-11-13T115540.691.png?width=2000&height=1500&name=Untitled%20design%20-%202025-11-13T115540.691.png "Untitled design - 2025-11-13T115540.691") **20th Oct 2026** Host TBC ![Untitled design - 2025-11-13T115744.050](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202025-11-13T115744.050.png?width=2000&height=1500&name=Untitled%20design%20-%202025-11-13T115744.050.png "Untitled design - 2025-11-13T115744.050") **17th Nov 2026** Host TBC # The Emerging Leaders Peer Group Members ![Untitled design - 2025-11-13T112815.173](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202025-11-13T112815.173.png "Untitled design - 2025-11-13T112815.173") **Shay Brasier** *Business Manager Drives and Electronics* Central Group ![Untitled design - 2025-11-13T113116.129](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202025-11-13T113116.129.png "Untitled design - 2025-11-13T113116.129") **David Bruen** *Service Operations Manager* Closomat ![Untitled design - 2025-11-13T113550.319](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202025-11-13T113550.319.png "Untitled design - 2025-11-13T113550.319") **Harrison Batiste** *Manufacturing Process Engineer* BCA Group ![Untitled design - 2025-11-13T113844.312](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202025-11-13T113844.312.png "Untitled design - 2025-11-13T113844.312") **Paul Cowley** *Head of Engineering* Auto Marine Cables ![Untitled design - 2025-11-13T114202.353](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202025-11-13T114202.353.png "Untitled design - 2025-11-13T114202.353") **John Wheeler** *Maintenance Manager* Arden Dies # Meet the Facilitator Catherine is one of the Manufacturers’ Alliance experts and facilitates the Aspiring Leaders Peer Group. With a career spanning multiple leading manufacturing organisations, including Kimberly Clark, Black & Decker, and Britax, Catherine brings a wealth of practical experience, commercial insight, and coaching expertise to her work with aspiring senior leaders. Beginning in operational and product-focused roles, she developed a deep understanding of manufacturing dynamics, which now underpins her ability to support leaders and teams to perform at their best. An experienced leadership coach and facilitator, Catherine is passionate about helping leaders and their teams unlock potential, clarify vision and strategy, and build purposeful, high-performing cultures. Her approach is both supportive and challenging, creating a safe space for honest conversations, encouraging curiosity, and removing complexity to foster clarity, focus, and decisive action. Catherine’s coaching and facilitation style combines her commercial experience with a natural ability to build trust, enabling teams to navigate change, strengthen relationships, and achieve sustainable results. Throughout her career, Catherine has helped transform organisational cultures, working with senior and extended leadership teams to establish values-based, high-trust environments that drive growth and engagement. She is particularly skilled at supporting leaders to focus on what matters, align their teams, and create workplaces where people want to come and stay. Known for her curiosity, warmth, and ability to foster genuine connections, Catherine inspires leaders to think strategically, act purposefully, and lead with confidence. Outside of work, Catherine enjoys fresh air, blue skies, mountains and coastlines, good food, and sharing love and laughter with those around her. Driven by passion and purpose, she thrives on collaborating with like-minded people to make the world of work a great place for all, bringing authenticity, insight, and energy to every interaction.   ![Untitled design - 2025-11-13T121437.310](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202025-11-13T121437.310.png "Untitled design - 2025-11-13T121437.310") # Members of the Manufacturers Alliance Logo Download your Members of the Manufacturers' Alliance logo below and showcase your membership across your materials, website, and communications. [Download logo](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hubfs/Member%20of%20the%20Manufacturers%E2%80%99%20Alliance-2.png?hsLang=en-gb) ![Member of the Manufacturers’ Alliance-1](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hubfs/Member%20of%20the%20Manufacturers%E2%80%99%20Alliance-1.png "Member of the Manufacturers’ Alliance-1") # Upcoming Events ![Untitled design - 2025-11-10T140512.194](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202025-11-10T140512.194.png "Untitled design - 2025-11-10T140512.194") ## Coming Soon.... We’re currently scheduling our upcoming events and look forward to welcoming you soon. This section will feature workshops, thought leadership events, and other opportunities to support your leadership journey in manufacturing. Stay tuned for details.   # Meet the Office Team ![Untitled design - 2025-10-24T082106.611](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202025-10-24T082106.611.png "Untitled design - 2025-10-24T082106.611") **Rebecca Chapman** *Marketing Manager * Contact Rebecca with all your good news stories to share in our newsletter and socials. Email: *rebecca.chapman@manufacturersalliance.co.uk* ![Untitled design - 2025-10-24T082136.571](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202025-10-24T082136.571.png "Untitled design - 2025-10-24T082136.571") Gary Sheader Founder & MD Contact Gary for any support whether it's personal challenge or business. *Email: gary.sheader@manufacturersalliance.co.uk* ![Untitled design - 2025-10-24T082226.929](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202025-10-24T082226.929.png "Untitled design - 2025-10-24T082226.929") Fiona Chan Events Coordinator If you have any queries on events or peer group meetings Fiona will be able to help. Email: fiona.chan*@manufacturersalliance.co.uk* ![Untitled design - 2025-10-24T082259.754](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202025-10-24T082259.754.png "Untitled design - 2025-10-24T082259.754") Trish Sheader Office Manager Trish is on hand to answer any questions you have on membership or the Academy. Email: *trish.sheader@manufacturersalliance.co.uk* # Our Pillars of Support ![Untitled design - 2025-10-23T104647.077](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202025-10-23T104647.077.png "Untitled design - 2025-10-23T104647.077") ### Peer Groups  Meet with like-minded peers from the manufacturing sector, with similar challenges and aspirations. They will learn and share with you, hold you accountable, and help you to break through the boundaries that are holding you back. [Learn more](https://www.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/peer-support-groups/) ### The Academy Invest in your team and develop the leadership and management skills needed for the future of manufacturing. Develop emotionally intelligent and forward thinking managers who are confident and competent to make an impact in their role. [Learn more](https://www.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/the-academy/) ![Untitled design - 2025-10-21T144453.215](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202025-10-21T144453.215.png "Untitled design - 2025-10-21T144453.215") ![Untitled design - 2025-10-21T150426.000](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202025-10-21T150426.000.png "Untitled design - 2025-10-21T150426.000") ### Thought Leadership Events Our carefully constructed online and in person events help ambitious manufacturing owners and managers understand what it takes to run a great business, providing inspiration with a constant stream of new ideas. [Learn more](https://www.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/thought-leadership-events/) ### Hands-on Support Our Hands-on Support team are experienced business leaders with wide-ranging skills gained from decades of experience in the manufacturing sector. They are high achievers in their areas of expertise and work collaboratively with our customers and each other. [Learn more](https://www.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hands-on-support/) ![Untitled design - 2025-10-21T150618.377](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202025-10-21T150618.377.png "Untitled design - 2025-10-21T150618.377") # Meet the Facilitators ![Untitled design - 2025-10-21T151427.477](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202025-10-21T151427.477.png "Untitled design - 2025-10-21T151427.477") **Catherine Smith** *Aspiring Director Peer Group / 1-2-1 Coaching* **Sweet Spot -** Supporting and challenging leaders and their teams to lead, build great cultures, purposeful missions and business models that are sustainable. ![Untitled design - 2025-10-21T163214.774](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202025-10-21T163214.774.png "Untitled design - 2025-10-21T163214.774") **Nicki Campbell** *HR Leaders Peer Group / Academy / 1-2-1 Coaching / Hands on Support* **Sweet Spot -** Providing a supportive space in which individuals can recognise & achieve their untapped potential, ensuring actions & objectives are achieved. ![Untitled design - 2025-10-21T164048.480](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202025-10-21T164048.480.png "Untitled design - 2025-10-21T164048.480") **JulietteYardley** *HR Leaders Peer Group / Academy / 1-2-1 Coaching / Hands on Support* **Sweet Spot -** Challenging people & teams to understand what is 'really' going on in the room, & supporting individuals & teams through effective behavioural & cultural change. ![Untitled design - 2025-10-21T164512.707](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202025-10-21T164512.707.png "Untitled design - 2025-10-21T164512.707") **Jonathan Wurr** *Academy / 1-2-1 Coaching* **Sweet Spot -** Supporting and challenging leaders and their teams to lead, build great cultures, purposeful missions and business models that are sustainable. ![Untitled design - 2025-10-21T164822.934](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202025-10-21T164822.934.png "Untitled design - 2025-10-21T164822.934") **Victoria Hopkins** *Emerging Leaders Peer Group / 1-2-1 Coaching* **Sweet Spot -** Supporting leaders that need to get themselves & their teams unstuck, & start to make brave steps to move themselves & the business forward. ![Untitled design - 2025-10-21T170507.594](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202025-10-21T170507.594.png "Untitled design - 2025-10-21T170507.594") **Mark Booker** *Lancashire  & Cheshire Senior Leadership Peer Groups / 1-2-1 Coaching* **Sweet Spot -** Supporting leaders that require a leadership & management capability assessment at pace, & support them to transition through the required changes. ![Untitled design - 2025-10-21T170943.451](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202025-10-21T170943.451.png "Untitled design - 2025-10-21T170943.451") **John Hardwick** *Operational Excellence Peer Group  / 1-2-1 Coaching* **Sweet Spot -** Supporting change & improvements in complex environments, that need a systems thinker, with the capacity to introduce the best tools for each change effort. ![Untitled design - 2025-10-22T170749.786](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202025-10-22T170749.786.png "Untitled design - 2025-10-22T170749.786") **Kerry Leigh** *Academy  / 1-2-1 Coaching* **Sweet Spot -** Creating a safe space for individuals & teams, so they can take a deep dive into their challenges, & identify & work towards a desired outcome. ![Untitled design - 2025-10-01T101322.653](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202025-10-01T101322.653.png "Untitled design - 2025-10-01T101322.653") **Gary Sheader** *West Manchester Senior Leadership Peer Group / 1-2-1 Coaching / Hands on Support* **Sweet Spot -  **Facilitating ambitious teams through the transition of becoming collectively aligned behind a common purpose, vision, strategy  & set of shared values. ![Untitled design - 2025-10-22T171401.195](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202025-10-22T171401.195.png "Untitled design - 2025-10-22T171401.195") **Simon Carin** *1-2-1 Coaching / Hands on Support* **Sweet Spot -  **Working alongside leaders that are on a learning journey & helping them to grow  at the same pace as the business & the rest of the team. ![Untitled design - 2025-10-29T171513.957](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202025-10-29T171513.957.png "Untitled design - 2025-10-29T171513.957") **Manyesh Panya** *1-2-1 Coaching / Hands on Support* **Sweet Spot -  **Providing leadership &  strategic direction that drives business transformation, operational efficiency, & long-term value creation. # About the Manufacturers' Alliance Established in 2013, the Manufacturers' Alliance is an independently owned business, with an overarching passion to support the manufacturing community at the heart of our economy. We are the go to organisation for business leaders in the manufacturing sector that want to develop modern leadership skills, lead a high performing team and be a force for good in the world. Business owners and leaders that join the Manufacturers’ Alliance are lifelong learners that want to continue to develop themselves in order to remain effective. They are progressive and have a strong desire to continue to improve. They love be around like-minded manufacturers, and share challenges and ideas with each other. And most importantly, they don’t have big egos. They are humble, supportive and open to doing things differently. When you join the Manufacturers’ Alliance, you are joining a like-minded community that will support and encourage you on your journey towards sustainable business growth and leadership excellence. You will be part of a cause that makes a positive difference in the world. ## "The MA has helped me to feel more confident and ready to take on the world. I'm trying to steer the company and when you see others doing it well, that's very valuable" Rachael Baker, Managing Director, JJ Smith ## "You feel you are a part of something where everyone cares about your business. I always take away a piece of gold." Alex Grace, Managing Director, Banana Moon Clothing [![MA_Master_RGB-2](https://resources.manufacturersalliance.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/MA_Master_RGB-2.jpg?width=500&height=154&name=MA_Master_RGB-2.jpg "MA_Master_RGB-2")](https://www.manufacturersalliance.co.uk)