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Manufacturing Leaders’ Summit is the UK’s most senior invitation-only forum for manufacturing executives navigating an increasingly complex and unpredictable operating environment.
Across two days, more than 250 manufacturing leaders come together for candid discussion, strategic debate and practical problem-solving through 25 closed-door roundtable sessions designed exclusively for senior decision-makers.
UK manufacturers are facing a convergence of pressures unlike any seen in recent years. Rising labour costs. Persistent productivity challenges. Global trade uncertainty. Supply chain disruption. Workforce shortages. AI-driven transformation. Increasing cyber and sustainability obligations.
The 2026 summit has been rebuilt for this new reality.
The conversation has evolved from digital transformation programmes to the business outcomes they are expected to deliver.
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The challenges facing UK manufacturers have changed. The conversations shaping successful organisations must change too.
Manufacturing Leaders’ Summit 2026 has been redesigned to reflect the realities of operating in a high-cost, high-pressure and increasingly uncertain environment.
Boardroom Agendas, Not Technology Demos
This is not a technology showcase.
Sessions focus on the strategic decisions senior leaders are making right now: improving productivity, protecting margins, scaling AI, turning data into better decisions, strengthening supply resilience, securing investment and leading transformation under pressure.
Problem-Led Discussions
Every roundtable is built around a real manufacturing challenge, not a generic industry theme.
From workforce shortages and productivity pressure to cyber risk, energy resilience and supply chain disruption, discussions are designed to deliver practical insight and actionable takeaways.
Debate, Not Consensus
The most valuable conversations rarely come from everyone agreeing.
Our panels are designed to challenge conventional thinking, test assumptions and expose delegates to different perspectives from leaders tackling similar challenges in different ways.
New Themes for 2026
Alongside core themes such as operational excellence, automation and digital transformation, the 2026 programme introduces new areas of focus including:
. Sovereign manufacturing and UK industrial capability
. AI governance, risk and workforce adoption
. The productivity challenge: doing more without hiring more
. The CEO and CFO perspective on transformation investment
. Industrial energy resilience and security
. Reshoring, supply chain localisation and strategic sourcing
Because today’s manufacturing leaders need more than inspiration. They need practical insight, peer benchmarking and proven strategies for building competitive, resilient and future-ready organisations.
View the 2026 topics
Manufacturing Leaders' Summit won Silver for Event of the Year (up to 1000 attendees) at the Conference & Events Awards 2026
Manufacturing Leaders' Summit is a finalist for Best UK Conference at the AEO Excellence Awards 2026
"A highly curated leadership forum with strong purpose and exceptional audience quality. The event clearly understands the needs of senior manufacturing leaders, prioritising strategic discussion, peer exchange and real-world insight over scale." - Conference and Events Awards judge
"Impressive curated audience approach that requires courage and in this case clearly delivered results. Creation of exclusivity through topic ownership. Impressive engagement, feedback and revenue figures." - Conference and Events Awards judge
Vice President of Production
Calrsberg Britvic
There are loads of people here who’ve either solved the problems I’m facing or have solutions I haven’t found yet. Events like this are fantastic because everyone here has the same pressures and trials. Sharing them openly is invaluable.
Group Enterprise Excellence Lead
Finsbury Food Group
The conversations and insights were really valuable. Manufacturing is evolving fast, and these discussions reinforced the importance of collaboration, innovation, and leadership in shaping the future!
Automation Project Manager
Samworth Brothers
Many thanks to The Manufacturer for the invitation and for organising such a high-quality event bringing together inspiring leaders across UK industry.
Operations Director
Woodlands Home & Garden Group
A rare chance to step away from the noise, listen, learn, and see how others tackle challenges that might look very different on the surface but often come from the same roots! I always leave these events full of reflection, ideas, and a sense of renewed energy. Sometimes it is not about learning something entirely new, it is about being reminded of what matters and seeing it from a different angle.
Business Director – Products
Woods Air
We learned a lot from each other shared ideas, challenged thinking, and even solved a few problems along the way. Huge thanks to the organiser The Manufacturer and speakers for two incredible days of insights and collaboration and to everyone I met who shared their experiences so openly.
SVP Manufacturing Engineering – Civil Aero
Rolls-Royce
Interesting couple of days seeing how we can share learning across industries in UK Manufacturing - catching up with old friends and meeting new contacts!
Head of SASB Operations
Sertec
The roundtable was enlightening, I'm keen to learn more and plan to connect with my roundtable hosts to explore further.
Global Operations Methods & Tools Project Manager
Alstom
Really good experience, really good conversations, topics. Keynote speakers were brilliant.
Global Process Owner – Manufacturing & Engineering
Dechra
Events like this remind me how powerful collaboration is through connections and also sharing knowledge as we all work through similar projects, initiatives and the challenges that come with that.
The Manufacturing Leaders' Summit returns to the Titanic Hotel, Liverpool, a venue that consistently suits the closed, senior nature of the forum.
Applied to senior manufacturers only.
Contact our team at events_TM@nineteengroup.com for special offer when you purchase for a group of 3 delegates.
Get in touch
Petra Velzeboer • 10 Oct 2025
Nigel Paine • 10 Sep 2025
Places are limited and allocated by seniority. If the pressures shaping UK manufacturing in 2026 sit within your responsibility, this is one of the few forums where the sector’s most senior leaders can discuss them candidly with their peers.
Register Your PlaceConnect your brand with more than 250 senior manufacturing decision-makers: COOs, MDs, Operations Directors, CTOs and transformation leaders from the UK’s most significant manufacturing organisations.
