Manufacturing innovation is about more than new machines. It is about leadership, resilience, and building the right teams. In this episode you will hear how military discipline shaped Martin Jewell’s approach to leadership, why culture determines whether a project succeeds or fails, and what bold moves are needed for the future of UK manufacturing.

Martin, Co-founder and CTO at Rapid Fusion, shares his journey from the Royal Engineers to leading advanced manufacturing projects, and why listening, adaptability, and strong teams are at the heart of innovation.

We explore:
• How lessons from the military transfer into manufacturing leadership
• Why toxic cultures stall progress and how to prevent them
• The realities of moving from construction into advanced manufacturing
• Why startups can outpace big corporates in bringing products to market
• What the UK needs to compete in global manufacturing innovation

Martin shows that innovation in manufacturing is not only about technology. It is about people, culture, and the courage to take risks.

📍 Connect with Martin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinjewell/
📍 Visit Rapid Fusion: https://rapidfusion.co.uk/

Building a career in UK aerospace does not have to follow a straight line.

In this episode you’ll hear how apprenticeships can open doors, why culture matters as much as technical skills, and what the future holds for the aerospace and space industries.

Chris Woodhams, Co-founder of Lat51 Space Systems, shares his journey from apprenticeship to leadership, the challenges of moving from working in a business to running one, and why celebrating failures is key to growth.

We explore:
• Why you don’t need a degree to start a successful career in aerospace
• The realities of moving from employee to employer
• How apprenticeships provide opportunities for leadership development
• Why culture and celebrating failures strengthen teams
• Where the opportunities are in aerospace and space over the next decade

Chris shows that building a career in aerospace is not only about technology. It’s about people, culture and the choices you make along the way.

📍 Connect with Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriswoodhamsargenta/

📍 Visit Lat51 Space Systems: https://www.lat51.space/

Kate Davies, transformation consultant and founder of Rufus Wren, brings two decades of experience in engineering, manufacturing, and industrial change.

In this episode, she shares her perspective on sustainable leadership in manufacturing and why fixing culture is essential for long-term success.

We explore:

• What sustainable leadership looks like in real factories

• How to lead high-performing teams without burning them out

• Why financial success should be a byproduct, not the goal

• How to create culture change with small, actionable steps

• The biggest mistakes leaders make when trying to transform a business

Kate works closely with leadership teams to deliver practical, people-focused change. Her experience proves that sustainable leadership in manufacturing starts with listening, not spreadsheets.

📍 Connect with Kate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-davies-9b310341/

📍 Visit Rufus Wren: https://www.rufuswren.co.uk/