Bradford’s female manufacturing leaders inspire pupils Bradford’s female manufacturing leaders headlined a panel event to inspire school pupils as part of Bradford Manufacturing Weeks 2021. The district’s female manufacturing role models from some of Bradford’s most established blue-chip manufacturers, took questions from Bradford Girls’ Grammar School pupils during the fortnight of in person and online manufacturing events. The women, who have a collective 150 years’ manufacturing experience, lead and manage Bradford and Keighley-based international businesses in the chemical, component, aerospace, textile products and metallurgical laboratory sectors. Led by West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, Bradford Manufacturing Weeks introduces students to a career in manufacturing through Q&A panels, work placements, manufacturer tours, work experience and life skills events. Since 2018, the initiative has created more than 12,000 manufacturing experiences for Bradford pupils aged 14-18.
The Women in Manufacturing panel at Bradford Girls’ Grammar School on Thursday 14 October was led by Vicky Wainwright, Bradford Chamber of Commerce President and Managing Director of accountancy firm and Bradford Manufacturing Weeks sponsor, Naylor Wintersgill. Taking questions from the all-female student audience were Debbie Mellor, Managing Director of Keighley Laboratories, Diana Scholefield, Managing Director of Gesipa, Katie Owen, Supply Chain Manager from Produmax, Fran Salisbury Director of Canvasman, Lou Franklin, Managing Director of Mansfield Pollard, Kate Fisher Production Manager from Solenis, and Stacey King, Laboratory Manager at Christeyns UK. Fran Salisbury, who established Baildon-based, awardwinning bespoke fabric and outdoor upholstery manufacturer, Canvasman with her husband Chris in 1996, said: “I have worked in every aspect of our business from design and sewing through to developing our business plans and strategies. Even though women make up half of the workforce, they remain highly under-represented in the manufacturing sector, especially at managerial levels.”
