Punching well above its weight nationally, Gloucestershire is home to some of the country's most innovative, successful and respected manufacturing and engineering businesses.
SoGlos shings a spotlight on the influential individuals driving these businesses forwards.
Will Lee – Renishaw
Will Lee took over as chief executive of engineering giant Renishaw from the late Sir David McMurtry in 2018. After joining the company on a graduate scheme in 1996, he has worked his way up to hold a number of senior management positions, including director and general manager for the laser and calibration products division; director of group sales and marketing; and then chief executive, giving him a deep understanding of the business and the sector.
With a degree in physics and a mission to use it to solve real-world problems, under Will's tenure Renishaw has been recognised with multiple awards for its innovative products; Queens Awards for enterprise and international trade; and recognition for its industry-leading graduate scheme.
Lucy Beresford – SLG Brands
Lucy Beresford is the joint managing director of beauty incubator SLG Brands, along with Richard Buckland. Lucy heads up trading and commercial and has been instrumental in some of the business's highest profile product launches and partnerships – including sustainable haircare brand Rhyme & Reason; White Fox's first-ever line of beauty products; Paul Smith's debut grooming collection; and its Happy Hair People range, which was one of the first in the world to use patented mood-boosting fragrances.
Never one to stand still, Lucy also spearheaded SLG becoming patrons of the British Beauty Council in 2025, to drive positive change across the beauty industry in the UK and regularly speaks at national conferences.
James Milner – Wild Hydrogen
James Milner is the CEO of Gloucestershire climate tech company, Wild Hydrogen, which is developing innovative carbon-negative hydrogen and biomethane technology to help decarbonise high-polluting sectors like energy, transport and heavy industry.
Having established and grown three successful enterprises from the ground up, creating over 200 skilled jobs and generating £1 billion in value to clients, James is now applying his skills and expertise to this ambitious R&D company – and has already navigated a series of complex technical and regulatory challenges to secure £5 million in funding for its clean energy innovations.
Richard Taylor – TBS Engineering
Richard Taylor is the group managing director of TBS Engineering – world leading supplier of equipment to the global lead acid battery production industry with over 200 staff and a well-respected apprenticeship programme which has been running for 10 years. Its UK headquarters is based in Gloucester, with sites across Europe, the USA, Mexico, India and China.
Its innovative systems and technologies are shaking up the industry across the world, transforming and automating legacy processes requiring intensive manual labour, improving not only factory floor efficiency, but the health and wellbeing of thousands of workers worldwide.
Mark Colebrook – Astor Bannerman
Two-time Gloucestershire Business Awards winner Astor Bannerman has its UK operations headed up by managing director Mark Colebrook. With over 25 years of experience in engineering and manufacturing, Mark has an impressive track record as an agent of change and customer service champion.
Under his stewardship, Astor Bannerman has seen five years of growth as demand skyrockets for its Changing Places toilets, which have revolutionised care for disabled people. It has also launched its adult-sized, vandalism-proof changing table designed specifically for use in Changing Places toilets, to further improve public conveniences for disabled users.
Mark Lawton – Moog
Mark Lawton is the general manager for the ACC division at Moog. The company moved into its £40 millon site in Tewkesbury in 2023 marking the start of an exciting time for Moog and, according to Mark, a sign of its 'commitment to Gloucestershire'. It saw record financial performance in 2024 and looks set to break that record again in 2025.
A testament to Moog's company culture, the cutting-edge aerospace engineering firm overcame adversity after flash flooding halted production, with the entire team pulling together to restore its services in record time – so it's no surprise that customers rate it well above competitors, cementing its position as a leader in its sector.
Andy Barham – Premiere Kitchens
Premiere Kitchens, part of the Markey Group, is headed up by managing director Andy Barham. Andy helped to turn the company's fortunes around after the government slashed social maintenance budgets pre-pandemic, with a purpose-led strategy that preserved jobs; increased productivity; doubled sales; doubles employee engagement; and grew net profit.
He is also passionate about people, acting as a mentor for people internally and externally. Andy has completed the GOLD programme with QuoLux and has helped the company achieve a gold accreditation from Investors in People. He is now embarking on a leadership MBA to lead Premiere Kitchens to new heights.
Warren Thomas – Gloucestershire Engineering Training
Founded in 1977 by a partnership of county businesses, Gloucestershire Engineering Training provides apprenticeship training for some of the county's most innovative engineering firms.
Warren Thomas was appointed CEO in September 2021, bringing over 29 years of experience in supporting and delivering apprenticeships at a senior level to the role. Passionate about developing and nurturing the engineers of the future, Warren is a T Level ambassador and has worked with an awarding organisation for over 10 years, supporting trailblazing, employer-led groups setting the standards for engineering in England.
Emma Jenkins – Ontic
Emma Jenkins joined Staverton-based Ontic as site director in 2023, to oversee the day-to-day running and health and safety at the facility as it undergoes a period of rapid growth.
With 35 years of experience working in STEM, Emma has led the site as it increased from a team of 90 to 250, while increasing revenue by almost five times, too. Emma is also a champion of apprenticeships and a mentor for young people in the industry.
Lucy Ackland – Renishaw
Lucy Ackland is a product owner and senior engineer at Renishaw, as well as being a passionate ambassador for apprenticeships and for women in engineering.
She joined Renishaw as an apprentice and has since amassed 20 years of experience across a variety of skills, from tool probing and additive manufacturing, to now specialising in Vision technology software and metrology software for CMMs – and has been named one of the UK's top 50 women in engineering.
Marc Begg – Cirencester Fabrication Services
'Turning inspiration into metal' is Marc Begg's motto. Managing director of Cirencester Fabrication Services, Marc moved to the UK from his native New Zealand over 25 years ago and has had an illustrious career since.
As well as reinvigorating Cirencester Fabrication Services' business since joining in 2020, he is also the founder of Kyeburn – the design arm of CFS – specialising in sustainable outdoor living products, from garden furniture and fire pits to sculptures, made to last a lifetime.
Dan Hodgson – Prima Healthcare Group
After joining Prima Dental as part of a graduate scheme in 2006, Dan Hodgson was appointed CEO of the recently rebranded Prima Healthcare Group at the start of 2025.
Having grown and developed with the firm – Prima is the world's leading manufacturer of dental burs, which, in no small part, is thanks to Dan's work – he says he is 'committed to shaping the future of dental and medical healthcare devices through strategic leadership and collaboration' and has incredibly ambitious growth plans, from expanding its design and manufacturing capabilities to increasing its turnover.
Elise Seibold – Suntory Beverages & Food
Elise Seibold is the chief operating officer for Suntory Beverages & Food for Great Britain and Ireland, based at its Coleford facility. Having been with the company for 20 years, she has held a number of positions in the UK and internationally, working her way through the ranks to the position of COO in November 2024.
Elisa has overseen the biggest ever Lucozade launch and a high-profile collaboration with Jude Bellingham; a £6.3 million in a sustainable new design for Lucozade Energy, including installing new 'sleevers' across three production lines at the Coleford factory; and the company investing £920,000 in a blackcurrant breeding programme to improve crop resilience.
Nimesh Patel – Spirax Sarco
After four years as chief financial officer, Nimesh Patel took up the role of CEO at Cheltenham-based Spirax Sarco in 2024. Building on strong foundations, Nimesh is committed to creating 'a more efficient, safer and sustainable future', moving the business's decarbonisation capabilities forward, while preserving Spirax's caring company culture.
Nimesh has also been the co-chair of the FTSE Women Leaders Review since 2021 and is also a charity trustee.
Mark Stewart – Stewart Golf
Mark Stewart is the co-founder of world-renowned business Stewart Golf and has been instrumental in the company's success at home and internationally. Its self-following golf trolley has revolutionised the sport for golfers all over the world and been likened to prestige car marque Bentley.
The business has received a Queen's Award for Enterprise and was named in The Sunday Times 100 fastest-growing companies. Mark is also a leading voice in export policy and was previously a UK Export Champion.
