Manufacturing leaders will come together in Coventry on 21 October to explore practical ways to attract, retain and develop a more diverse workforce, with new research on flexible working providing a major focus for the day.
Organised by Women in Manufacturing UK (WiM UK), the national initiative working to improve gender balance in UK manufacturing, the conference will bring together industry and academic representatives at the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry to share practical approaches to creating workplaces where more people can participate, progress and thrive.
The conference comes as progress in women’s overall representation has stalled. Women accounted for 28.2% of the UK manufacturing workforce in 2025, down slightly from 28.4% in 2024. However, women continued to gain ground in traditionally male-dominated roles: their representation rose to 27.3% among managers, directors and senior officials, 28.7% in professional occupations and 10.4% in skilled trades. Reaching the “35 by 35” ambition will require women’s representation to rise by a further 6.8 percentage points by 2035.
A key moment at the conference will be the launch of the WiM UK report Time to flex: Building flexible manufacturing workplaces. Drawing on national workforce data, an online survey of 83 manufacturing employees, a focus group discussion and three case-study interviews, the report examines how flexible working can support the attraction and retention of talent, wellbeing and wider workforce participation.
The findings provide an insight into the role flexibility can play in retaining manufacturing talent. More than half (56%) of survey respondents said access to flexible working was very or extremely important to their decision to remain in their current job, while 11% said it had enabled them to remain in manufacturing. Additionally, 57% reported improved work-life balance and 40% said flexibility had reduced stress or fatigue.
The report also challenges the assumption that flexible working in manufacturing simply means working from home. It encompasses flexible start and finish times, compressed hours, part-time working, job sharing, annualised hours, shift design, predictable scheduling and hybrid arrangements where roles allow. Its findings suggest there is no single model for manufacturing: employers should start with business and workforce needs, consider what flexibility is possible in each role, test changes and learn from what works.
These issues will be brought to life throughout the conference, with manufacturers and experts sharing practical examples of how different approaches are already being used across the sector.
Conference programme
The 2026 programme is designed to move from evidence to practical action, combining research, industry case studies, panel discussions and interactive sessions, alongside opportunities for delegates to exchange experiences and build new connections.
Following the launch of the new Women in Manufacturing UK report, a fireside chat will explore what flexible working looks like in practice. Panels throughout the day will examine how manufacturers can break workplace stereotypes and build high-performing teams, while interactive sessions will explore attracting women into manufacturing, flexibility at work and allyship.
Alongside insights from senior industry leaders, delegates will hear real-world examples of how organisations are putting flexible working and inclusive practices into action. A best-practice panel will bring together representatives from GE Vernova, Beko Europe, Molson Coors and HEINEKEN UK alongside optashift to discuss how flexibility can work in manufacturing environments.
Interactive carousel sessions will give delegates opportunities to explore practical approaches in greater depth through LEGO® Serious Play®, local and national showcases, discussions on workplace flexibility and allyship, and short talks from mission-aligned organisations including STEM Returners, the Institution of Engineering and Technology and Enginuity.
With dedicated networking breaks and a closing drinks reception, the conference will also offer plenty of opportunities to exchange ideas, make new connections and share experiences with others committed to creating a more inclusive future for manufacturing.
Speakers and contributors include:
- Dr Stella Peace, Non-Executive Director, High Value Manufacturing Catapult
- Roisin Carr, Regional Operations Director UK&I, Molson Coors Beverage Company
- Lisa Gallagher, Co-Founder and Director, Flexibility Works
- Dr Jennifer Castañeda-Navarrete, Principal Policy Analyst, Cambridge Industrial Innovation Policy, University of Cambridge
- Anne-Frances Ball, Senior Vice President – UK Supply Chain, Arla Foods
- Jess McGuire, CEO, John Smedley
- Neo Chatyoka, CEO and Founder, Uhuru Botanicals
- Kornelia Jagielska, Manufacturing Leader, GE Vernova
- Robert Crossman, Director, optashift
- Poggy Murray Whitam, Founder and Director, OutEngineered
- Hayley Whitwood, HR Director for UK & Ireland, Beko Europe
- Laura Stephens, People Partner – Supply Chain, HEINEKEN UK
- Natalie Desty, Director, STEM Returners
- Laura Norton, Head of EDI and WISE Director, Institution of Engineering and Technology
Flexible working in manufacturing is much broader than working from home. It is about looking carefully at when, where and how work is organised, and asking where people can have greater choice without compromising operational performance. Our research suggests that relatively small changes can make a meaningful difference to whether people join, stay and progress in the sector.
Dr Jennifer Castañeda-Navarrete, Principal Policy Analyst at Cambridge Industrial Innovation Policy and lead author of the 2026 report
Dr Stella Peace, Non-Executive Director at the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, says: “The manufacturers that succeed in the future will be those that combine technological innovation with workforce innovation. Flexibility is a strategic capability, helping businesses attract and retain talent, develop skills and improve performance. New technologies give us the chance not just to transform production, but to rethink how work is designed so more people can contribute, progress and lead. If we seize that opportunity, we can create a manufacturing sector that is good for people, good for business and vital to the UK’s competitiveness.”
Kate Willsher, Chief Operating Officer at IfM Engage, adds: “What makes this conference valuable is the opportunity to bring people from across manufacturing together to learn from one another and turn good ideas into practical action. Delegates will hear what organisations are doing in practice, explore approaches they can adapt to their own workplaces and make connections with others tackling many of the same challenges. We want people to leave with new perspectives, practical ideas and a stronger network to help them create change in their own organisations.”
Women in Manufacturing UK (WiM UK)
Founded in 2022, WiM UK is a national initiative dedicated to improving gender balance in UK manufacturing. A collaboration between the Institute for Manufacturing (University of Cambridge), the High Value Manufacturing Catapult and Innovate UK Business Connect, WiM UK’s mission is to increase women’s representation in manufacturing to 35% by 2035. The initiative unites researchers, practitioners and industry leaders to create inclusive cultures, open career pathways and empower women across all levels of the sector. Visit the website and LinkedIn page.
Women in UK Manufacturing report 2026
Time to flex: Building flexible manufacturing workplaces reviews progress on gender diversity and examines how different approaches to flexible working can support the attraction, retention and development of talent. It combines workforce data with evidence gathered from manufacturing employees and leaders and sets out six practical actions for employers.
The report is authored by Jennifer Castañeda-Navarrete (IfM Engage, Institute for Manufacturing, University of Cambridge), Nikki Slowey (Flexibility Works), Rose Sargent (Make UK), Eun Sun Godwin (University of Wolverhampton), Laura De Pieri (High Value Manufacturing Catapult), Valeria Ramirez (Institute for Manufacturing, University of Cambridge) and Robert Crossman (optashift).
The report will be launched at the 2026 Women in Manufacturing UK Conference and will be available to download on 21 October here.
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