Job Title: Head of Manufacturing
Company: Northern Lights
Tell us a bit about yourself. This can include telling us what fires you up about the job you do, your professional achievements, your career highlights. What inspires you? What attracted you to pursue a career in manufacturing? Is there anything else you’d like to say about either your job or UK manufacturing?
I’m Head of Manufacturing at Northern Lights, where I oversee production and lead health and safety. I began in 2011 as a warehouse operative and progressed through team leader and logistics supervisor roles, each step driven by my passion for improving efficiency and team collaboration. I’ve introduced key changes to streamline workflows, reduce costs and enhance communication between departments. In 2020, I played a vital role in prioritising sales orders and coordinating with internal sales, showcasing my proactive leadership.
Now, I manage production, lead safety initiatives and run weekly and monthly meetings to ensure alignment and progress. I’m inspired by the evolving challenges in manufacturing and the impact of strong leadership on team morale and output. Manufacturing fuels my passion for innovation and continuous improvement.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Trust your instincts. Be curious without fear. Not everything needs to be perfect, and most things aren’t nearly as scary or permanent as they feel in the moment.
What is your favourite engineered/manufactured product?
I’d have to say a thermos mug. It might seem simple, but it’s a game-changer for me – I rarely get the chance to sit down and finish a brew before it goes cold, so having something that keeps it warm makes all the difference.
Please give one interesting fact about yourself that not many people know.
I used to serve as part of the Queen’s Guard at the Tower of London, and one of the highlights was taking part in the centuries-old ‘Ceremony of the Keys’ – a tradition that’s been carried out every night without fail for over 700 years.
If you weren’t in manufacturing what would be your dream job?
I’d say I’ve already had the chance to live my dream job – ever since I was a child, I wanted to join the military, and I was fortunate enough to make that a reality after leaving school. But if that doesn’t sound exciting enough, then being a British touring car driver would definitely be next on the list.
