Founding Session — Wednesday 17 June 2026

Join the group
shaping smarter
manufacturing.

A small, peer-led working session for UK manufacturing leaders navigating digital, automation, and operational decisions — built around real experience, not presentations.

Wednesday 17 June 2026
10:30am – 2:30pm
Milton Keynes
Vendor neutral
Manufacturer-first
Discussion-led
Founding group

Founding Session

The Manufacturers Digital Exchange

Date
Wednesday 17 June 2026
Time
10:30am – 2:30pm
Venue
Venture Conferencing Centre
Milton Keynes, MK6 2TG
Includes
Refreshments & buffet lunch
Format
Small group — peer-led discussion
Investment
£85 + VAT

The ticket covers venue and catering costs and supports the launch of the Exchange as an independent, industry-led initiative.

Request Invitation

Limited places to maintain discussion quality

Digital pressure is growing.
Shared learning is not.

UK manufacturers are under growing pressure to adopt digital technologies — from automation and robotics to AI, control systems, and operational software.

But many £2m–£50m businesses are navigating this transformation without access to shared experience from peers operating at a similar scale.

Decisions are influenced by vendor marketing, incomplete information, and a lack of honest peer insight — increasing both risk and cost.

Most digital projects don't fail because of technology. They fail because of decisions made before implementation begins.

  • Loss of experienced knowledge and institutional understanding
  • Ongoing skills shortages across engineering and operations
  • Slow or unclear technology adoption pathways
  • Major investments made without peer reference points
  • Vendor-led decisions in the absence of neutral guidance
  • No trusted space for manufacturers to share honest experience

Built around three
core principles.

01

Peer Connection

A trusted environment where manufacturing leaders can openly exchange experiences, challenges, and lessons with people facing the same operational realities.

02

Practical Education

Grounded, real-world insight — not theory or vendor pitches — helping manufacturers understand what genuinely works in businesses at their scale.

03

Smarter Decisions

Supporting better adoption of digital tools, automation, and technology by learning from peers who have already navigated the journey — successes and failures alike.

What we'll
be exploring.

Three focused themes designed to generate honest, practical conversation — not polished presentations.

01

Where to invest in digital and automation

How are manufacturers prioritising between automation, AI, software, and machinery? What delivers genuine ROI versus what is noise?

02

What gets in the way in reality

Internal barriers, integration challenges, skills gaps, and leadership buy-in. Why good ideas often stall — and what actually helps.

03

What manufacturers are actually doing today

Real experiences, honest lessons, and the questions manufacturers are still uncertain about. What can we learn from each other right now?

Is this the
right session for you?

This is for you if you are…

  • A Managing Director or business owner in UK manufacturing
  • An Operations, Engineering, or Technical Director
  • A Digital or Transformation lead in an SME
  • Currently navigating digital or automation decisions
  • A manufacturer with £2m–£50m turnover
  • Open to sharing experience and learning from peers

What to expect on the day

  • Not a conference or traditional seminar
  • Not vendor-led presentations or sales pitches
  • Not a polished showcase event

  • Open, honest peer discussion
  • Short, focused provocations from contributors
  • Real conversations about real challenges
  • Opportunity to shape future Exchange sessions

Building something
bigger than one event.

This is not a one-off session. The Manufacturers Digital Exchange is being built as a national peer-learning platform — shaped by the people who take part. Each event will evolve based on attendee feedback, ensuring discussions remain relevant, practical, and grounded in real manufacturing challenges.

1
Now
Founding session — setting direction
2
Next
Peer case studies — real manufacturers
3
Future
National platform — regular sessions

Join the
founding group.

Attendance for this first session is intentionally limited to maintain the quality of discussion. Submit your details and we'll confirm your place and send joining information.

£2m+
Target turnover range of attending manufacturers
60%+
Of session time dedicated to peer discussion, not presentations
17 Jun
Milton Keynes — 10:30am to 2:30pm including lunch

Request Invitation

Places are limited — we'll confirm your attendance within 24 hours.

£85 + VAT per person. Includes refreshments and buffet lunch.
Confirmation and payment details will follow within 24 hours.