• Contact us
  • About us
  • Digital edition
  • Online archive
Tuesday, July 22, 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    Road closure plans for essential bridge repairs

    Road closure plans for essential bridge repairs

    Penrith drug dealer jailed

    Penrith drug dealer jailed

    Man who damaged Penrith’s Paddington Bear appears in court

    Man who damaged Penrith’s Paddington Bear appears in court

    Mandatory payrolling of Benefits in Kind delayed

    Mandatory payrolling of Benefits in Kind delayed

    Youngsters raise cash for Penrith food bank

    Youngsters raise cash for Penrith food bank

    Commissioner promises improvements to Cumbria’s fire and rescue service

    Commissioner promises improvements to Cumbria’s fire and rescue service

    Illegal campers fined for causing significant damage in Lake District

    Illegal campers fined for causing significant damage in Lake District

    Man dies after falling from A66 bridge

    Man dies after falling from A66 bridge

    New senior coroner appointed for Cumbria

    New senior coroner appointed for Cumbria

  • Sport
    New management set to lead Appleby Football Club

    New management set to lead Appleby Football Club

    Success for fighting squad

    Success for fighting squad

    Penrith skipper Nicky Burns calls on team to keep winning

    Penrith skipper Nicky Burns calls on team to keep winning

    £100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

    £100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    Road closure plans for essential bridge repairs

    Road closure plans for essential bridge repairs

    Penrith drug dealer jailed

    Penrith drug dealer jailed

    Man who damaged Penrith’s Paddington Bear appears in court

    Man who damaged Penrith’s Paddington Bear appears in court

    Mandatory payrolling of Benefits in Kind delayed

    Mandatory payrolling of Benefits in Kind delayed

    Youngsters raise cash for Penrith food bank

    Youngsters raise cash for Penrith food bank

    Commissioner promises improvements to Cumbria’s fire and rescue service

    Commissioner promises improvements to Cumbria’s fire and rescue service

    Illegal campers fined for causing significant damage in Lake District

    Illegal campers fined for causing significant damage in Lake District

    Man dies after falling from A66 bridge

    Man dies after falling from A66 bridge

    New senior coroner appointed for Cumbria

    New senior coroner appointed for Cumbria

  • Sport
    New management set to lead Appleby Football Club

    New management set to lead Appleby Football Club

    Success for fighting squad

    Success for fighting squad

    Penrith skipper Nicky Burns calls on team to keep winning

    Penrith skipper Nicky Burns calls on team to keep winning

    £100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

    £100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
No Result
View All Result
Home Latest

Cumbria Clock Company among 60 firms armed with digital skills thanks to innovative programme

by CWH
12 August 2021
in Latest, News
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Keith and Lynn Scobie-Youngs of The Cumbria Clock Company

Digital leaders in Cumbria are now among 60 with the vision and the skills to pursue smarter manufacturing through Made Smarter’s innovative Leadership Programme.

Five cohorts of managers and directors at SME manufacturing companies have now completed the Made Smarter Leadership Programme through the Lancaster University Management School, the University of Liverpool and Manchester Metropolitan University.

The programme encourages current and future leaders to develop a new way of looking at their business and create a clear strategy to enable the adoption of digital technology, including how that can drive the net zero agenda.

It uses a blend of workshops delivered by academics and experts in digital and leadership, site visits to SME manufacturers who are already on the journey of adopting digital technology, facilitated-learning sessions, and special project ‘sprints’ to test new ideas.

The programme also uses peer-to-peer coaching to create a trusted network of leaders, many of whom have remained in close contact.

Among the trailblazing businesses to embark on the programme are Penrith’s Eden River Brew Company, Primasonics and Cumbria Clock Company, Ulverston’s Astec Precision, Barrow and Flimby’s Forth Engineering and Cockermouth’s Createc.

With 60 SME leaders now empowered to transform their businesses, manufacturers across the North West are now being encouraged to register their interest for the next two cohort intakes, starting on October 7 and November 10 at Lancaster University.

Donna Edwards, director of the Made Smarter Adoption Programme in the North West, said: “I am delighted that the programme has helped create 60 new digital leaders by giving them time out of their business to reflect on the bigger picture and share ideas and experiences alongside their peers in manufacturing, and then return to their own business and develop a digital strategy to create growth and efficiencies.

“They are among hundreds of manufacturers in the region grasping the opportunities offered by Made Smarter which include expert, impartial technology advice, digital transformation workshops to help take that first step to transform a business, funded digital technology internships, and support with technology adoption projects.

“I would encourage SME manufacturers to make contact with Made Smarter to find out how we can help with leadership development, skills, and how to adopt technology the right way.”

The programme, which takes place over eight months, includes seven workshops led by both academics delivering leading edge thinking and business practitioners demonstrating adoption in real business settings.

Delegates will also embark on ‘sprints’ where they will test their ideas with other business leaders to build engagement and learn from each other.

Virtual site visits to SME manufacturers already driving digital in their companies included Runcorn-based Hosokawa Micron Ltd, a manufacturer and supplier of powder processing systems and equipment which has transformed its production performance through the application of digital technologies, and Veka Plc, a Burnley-based manufacturer of PVCu window systems.

At 58 years old, Keith Scobie-Youngs, co-founder of the Cumbria Clock Company, a repair and restoration specialist based in Penrith, had never done anything like the Made Smarter Leadership Programme before.

“I worried I was too old,” he said. “But it was enlightening.

“It gave me an opportunity to talk to people in the same position, some with more experience in some aspects of management and others just starting off. It was also interesting speaking to other participants who are taking over family businesses. I am laying the foundations for my sons to take over, so seeing it from the other side broadened my thinking.”

Keith’s biggest takeaway was on enhancing the business’s sustainability credentials.

“As a clockmaker, by our nature, we recycle these old timepieces and find engineering solutions to keep them running,” he said.

“But the nature of our work means that when a clock breaks down it has a big impact on the company in terms of cost, and the environment because of the travel impact to and from, sometimes multiple times.

“This is why, through Made Smarter support, we are implementing a digital management system, so we can be more efficient in planning maintenance and repairs, and reduce our carbon footprint. Sustainability is also a key driver of our plans to move to a new purpose-built workshop.

“Through the programme, I realised we are in a strong position to improve and differentiate ourselves from our competitors through sustainability. Customers want to work with ethical companies, not just food and clothing, but every aspect of their lives, including horology.”

Professor Angus Laing, Dean of Lancaster University Management School, said: “When we co-created the Leadership Programme with Made Smarter, our hope was to create a space for leaders to build their confidence, capacity and capability, to identify, test and adopt new technologies. 

“It is clear from the feedback from so many of the leaders from the five cohorts who have now embarked on this programme that they have reaped great benefit from taking vital time away from the business to develop a strategy to adopt hi-tech and digitally-based manufacturing techniques into their own production processes while bringing employees and other stakeholders along on their digital transformation journey.”

Registration for the next Leadership Programme is now open. For more information or to apply for a place, visit madesmarter.uk

Related Posts

Road closure plans for essential bridge repairs
News

Road closure plans for essential bridge repairs

22 July 2025
Penrith drug dealer jailed
Latest

Penrith drug dealer jailed

22 July 2025
Man who damaged Penrith’s Paddington Bear appears in court
Latest

Man who damaged Penrith’s Paddington Bear appears in court

22 July 2025
Mandatory payrolling of Benefits in Kind delayed
Expert advice

Mandatory payrolling of Benefits in Kind delayed

20 July 2025
Youngsters raise cash for Penrith food bank
Latest

Youngsters raise cash for Penrith food bank

19 July 2025
Commissioner promises improvements to Cumbria’s fire and rescue service
News

Commissioner promises improvements to Cumbria’s fire and rescue service

18 July 2025
No Result
View All Result

Stay connected

Facebook Twitter Instagram

Most popular

Commissioner promises improvements to Cumbria’s fire and rescue service

Commissioner promises improvements to Cumbria’s fire and rescue service

18 July 2025
Bid to turn barns into homes get go-ahead

Bid to turn barns into homes get go-ahead

18 July 2025
Penrith drug dealer jailed

Penrith drug dealer jailed

22 July 2025
Kendal Calling commits £100,000 to Lake District conservation projects

Kendal Calling commits £100,000 to Lake District conservation projects

18 July 2025
Jean Bloomfield – a woman who had an enormous impact

Jean Bloomfield – a woman who had an enormous impact

18 July 2025
All change at Penruddock Primary School

All change at Penruddock Primary School

18 July 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald Logo

33 Middlegate
Penrith
Cumbria
CA11 7SY

Phone: 01768 862313
Email: news@cwherald.com

Registered in England as Barrnon Media Limited. No: 12475190
VAT registration number: 343486488

Explore

  • News
  • Sport
  • Farming
  • Property
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Your view

Useful links

  • Contact us
  • Photosales
  • Online archive
  • Buy your paper
  • Digital edition
  • North Lakes Living
  • Advertise
  • About us

Follow us on

© Barrnon Media Limited 2025

Terms & Conditions / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy

This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation
Review Your Cart
0
Discount
Add Coupon Code
Subtotal
Total Installment Payments
Bundle Discount
Checkout

 
0
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • more
    • North Lakes Living
    • Buy Photos
    • Buy your paper
    • About us
    • Contact us

© 2020 Cumberland & Westmorland Herald