This interview with Mark Capell and Kirstie Kennedy explored the leadership philosophy and cultural transformation behind the success of the aerospace manufacturing team at LISI Aerospace, which won the Leadership & Strategy Award at The Manufacturer MX Awards 2025.
They both shared insight into the company’s award-winning approach, which underlined the importance of resilience, teamwork and leadership culture. A central theme was the belief that successful leadership starts with people.
The leadership team at LISI do not see themselves as separate from the workforce, but as colleagues working towards a shared goal. Rather than relying solely on management theory, they have partnered with organisations specialising in neuroscience and behavioural development to better understand culture and leadership within the business. Empowering employees, they argued, is critical both for organisational success and for creating a workplace where people can thrive.
The interview highlighted how the company began its transformation journey six years ago, during a period of uncertainty that included the COVID-19 pandemic and significant challenges facing the aerospace sector. Recognising future skills shortages and recruitment difficulties, the leadership team focused on building a long-term strategy centred on employee engagement, retention and development.
Developing future leaders emerged as one of the company’s biggest priorities. Mark and Kirsty noted that management roles have evolved from being primarily technical to requiring strong people and leadership skills. To address this, the company has introduced structured development programmes, including a Deputy Line Leader apprenticeship scheme, designed to equip future managers with the skills needed to succeed. Looking ahead, the focus remains on nurturing talent, maintaining momentum and preparing the business for continued growth.
With the site expected to reach £100m in annual revenue and leadership programmes now being adopted across international operations, the team believe its people-first culture is creating a sustainable foundation for future success.
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