Now in its 12th year, The Manufacturer Top 100 recognises the most dynamic and inspiring individuals driving UK manufacturing forward. Each year, nominees are put forward by The Manufacturer’s audience and the wider industrial community, with the final 100 selected by a panel of industry leaders, academics, and representatives from key manufacturing associations.
This prestigious programme celebrates the individuals making outstanding contributions across areas such as Net Zero, Digital Transformation, Innovation, and Leadership. It highlights the sector’s Unsung Heroes, Sector Activists, and Young Pioneers, those who are creating meaningful impact beyond their years or role.
If you have someone in mind for 2026, let us know HERE!
Columbus is proud to sponsor The Manufacturer Top 100 because we believe in the power of people to shape the future of manufacturing. As a digital transformation partner to the industry, we are inspired by the passion, ingenuity, and resilience of those who lead progress. Supporting this initiative aligns with our mission to help manufacturers thrive in a rapidly evolving landscape, through innovation, sustainability, and empowered leadership.
Previous publications are available here.
Columbus is a global consultancy company with more than 2000 employees servicing 5000+ customers worldwide. We help ambitious manufacturing companies transform, maximise and futureproof their business digitally. The industry knowledge of our highly skilled experts enable us to provide the full range of manufacturing business-critical services and solutions adapted to your needs. From enabling new technologies that drive efficiency to advising on the right processes that drive your business growth, we add value to our customers through digital transformation.
Intergage Marketing Engineers exists to help ambitious manufacturers attract, win and retain better business with our unique Fried Egg Marketing® approach and HubSpot. By focusing on the best fit, high-value prospects and market-leading technology, we help you remove friction from your entire revenue operation, align teams and maximise high-quality customer relationships.
An individual who has made a significant impact within their organisation’s journey towards digital transformation. A champion and adopter of digital technologies that has helped move the business from an analogue past to a digital future, and in turn has increased productivity and decreased costs.
Someone who embraces change in order to improve outcomes, and who is able to bring their team along with them. They constantly seek to improve products, processes and/or team-working in service of the customer and the business.
A figurehead who has created wealth and stable employment at a UK-based manufacturer, while remaining committed to developing the value of their manufacturing business through people, processes and technology.
Someone who has been instrumental in inspiring their company to step up to the sustainability challenge and is driving the journey towards net zero within their organisation – shining a beacon on sustainability in the workplace and influencing a real positive change around the green agenda.
Unlike other categories in the Top 100, this award recognises someone from outside the sector. A non-manufacturer, but an individual who is nonetheless making a positive contribution to support and promote the industry, and the collaboration and integration needed, to enable people in the sector to do their jobs better. Whether that be working for RTOs, training organisations, catapults, universities or other supporting entities.
Someone who is instrumental in facilitating the success of those around them and the success of the business as a whole. They are the constants that provide support and knowledge both downwards and upwards within the professional hierarchy.
A person who has made an impact disproportionate to their years, providing inspiration for the future of manufacturing in the UK. We’re looking for trailblazers with a bright future that will be the leaders of tomorrow.
Below is a preview of our alumni profiles. Full access to all 100 profiles is available exclusively to The Manufacturer subscribers. [Subscribe here]
You can filter the profiles by company name (A–Z), alumni year, and award category. Multiple filters can be applied at once—just click Filter when you’re ready.
To search for a specific name, use the search bar located in the top-right corner of the page.
