Edward has joint responsibility for Rathbones’ research department and its central investment process. Day-to-day, he focuses on asset allocation, risk analytics, fixed income and currency, and business development. Edward presents frequently to clients and the media on the economic and financial market outlook. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst, produced learning content for CFA UK, most recently on using macroeconomic data to forecast earnings, and written position papers, most recently Chairing the working group on the future of corporate reporting. He has an MA from the University of Oxford and an MSc with distinction in Economic History from the LSE.
Nikki is currently the Director of the University of Sheffield’s flagship AMRC Training Centre, which is a member of the South Yorkshire Institute of Technology.
Prior to this Nikki was the Assistant Principal for Employer Engagement at a Further Education College and has held senior management roles across the sector.
Nikki holds a degree in Education and an MBA and is a highly experienced leader with more than 20 years’ experience in the education sector.
She has a passion for education and skills and is particularly interested in collaboration with strategic partners.
Nikki has a strong belief in the power of education and skills as a way to transform lives.
Darren Beardsmore has been Managing Director of Gripple Automation for over six years.
With a background in mechanical engineering, he is driven by a passion for manufacturing and has supported Gripple in its automation journey.
Thanks to Darren and Gripple Automation, Gripple is now almost 90% vertically integrated, allowing it to innovate at speed, grow
Keith joined the South Yorkshire Apprenticeship Hub in September ’23 as the Hub’s Manager. He and his team provide free and impartial advice to employers to help them make better and more informed decisions when employing an apprentice. Prior to this he has worked for a university, independent training provider and two professional bodies in senior apprenticeship roles. Back in 1985 Keith started his career as an apprentice with British Aerospace which he states created a great foundation for his future.
Alastair Morris is Managing Director of Accu.co.uk, a supplier of precision components to over 100,000 engineering and manufacturing customers. With engineering degrees from Cranfield and Cambridge Universities, Alastair’s career has given him commercial experience in SME and global corporate firms, developing new business in the UK, USA and Italy, from hand tools to automation, renewable energy to software. He is a member of the Make UK regional advisory board, an Apprenticeship Ambassador and Founding Fellow of the Institute of Sales Professionals. At Accu, an e-commerce business, he champions an exceptional employee experience to deliver an exceptional customer experience.
Steve is Chair of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult – the government’s flagship network of advanced manufacturing innovation centres, he is a member of Council at the Biotechnology and Biosciences Research Council and Chair of the Industrial Advisory Group of BioYorkshire. He has had a number of other board roles and was manufacturing advisor to the Vaccine Task Force during 2021/22. Before that he was CEO of Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies – a globally leading biopharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organisation. He chaired the UK’s Industrial Biotechnology Leadership Forum for 8 years and was a Co-Chair of the UK’s Bioeceonmy strategy steering group when it was launched in 2018.
Born and raised in the region, Oliver took office as Mayor in May 2022 on a platform of restoring the pride, purpose and prosperity of South Yorkshire. He was re-elected in May 2024 when the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner was brought under the remit of the South Yorkshire Mayor.
Since graduating from Leeds University, Oliver has worked for a range of organisations including Barnsley Council where he worked on low carbon regeneration projects, in Parliament and the US Congress, South Yorkshire’s Local Enterprise Partnership and the charity BookTrust. He was Chair of the Board at Sheffield Hallam Students’ Union and has worked on a number of high-profile political campaigns, both within the region and abroad.
As Mayor, Oliver is working on delivering his manifesto pledge to fight for a better deal for South Yorkshire. In line with another of his pledges, to improve transport in the region, Oliver has already brought the tram network back under public control.
Jo joined the Skills Bank team in September 2023, consulting and supporting business to access
funding through the Skills Bank programme. These businesses have identified essential areas to train
and develop their staff as part of their strategic business growth with a goal in future proofing their
business whilst boosting the South Yorkshire Economy and communities. Prior to this Jo was self
employed offering Coaching and Mentoring, continues to Volunteer on the Help to Grow
Programme as a Business Mentor. Over 37 years of work experience across many sectors and levels
Jo brings this into her role in Skills Bank and beyond.
A varied career path, culminating in the development of skills and experience across a range of engineering disciplines. Starting off developing/designing products, Matt has progressed through process engineering, automation and operations, working in such industries as plastic manufacturing, offsite housing manufacture and research
Alice Lees is a fourth-year Degree Manufacturing Engineering apprentice at Rolls-Royce, where she has excelled in various placements, including turbines, methods, digital, electrical and services. She has just completed her bachelor’s degree with the University of Sheffield, and is now reaching the end of her apprenticeship, completing her Level 6 qualification whilst consistently receiving top feedback from placement managers.
Alice distinguished herself early by achieving a distinction in her foundation degree and is hoping to receive a 1st in her manufacturing degree. Work ethic and leadership skills shine as she supports colleagues and leads initiatives such as a global coffee morning for International Women’s Day and well-being sessions.
In her proactive approach, Alice has sourced her own placements and aligned projects with business needs, contributing to reducing raw material waste, organizing global team events, and developing engineering strategies. Despite having a hearing impairment, Alice has ensured that it does not hinder her performance, communicating her needs effectively and excelling in her role.
A leader among her peers, Alice is actively involved in STEM outreach and is deeply committed to sustainability, playing a key role in Rolls-Royce’s strategic goals.
Amy is a regular face on TV screens across Yorkshire presenting the region’s most watch news programme BBC Look North for 10 years.
Amy is a straight talking northerner and a natural at putting people at ease. She’s covered three General Elections and some of the biggest stories to affect the Region including the covid pandemic, cost of living crisis, Manchester Arena bombing, Rotherham grooming, end of deep coal mining. Although Amy is used to interviewing politicians and celebrities, it’s normal Yorkshire folk she enjoys meeting most –“ Giving them their moment in the spotlight is what regional news is all about”.
Amy always says “yes” no matter how epic the challenge - In 2015 she cycled the 250 mile Tour de France route across Yorkshire on a tandem for Sport relief. 2018 saw her dragging the Look North sofa 150 miles through snow storms and torrential rain to mark 50 years of regional news. She’s also been strapped to an aeroplane, abseiled down a 120 feet building and plunged into caves beneath the Yorkshire Dales for Children in Need. Last year she ran her first (and last) marathon – The Leeds Rob Burrow marathon and she’s now in training for the “Burrow strictly ball” that will see her cha at Blackpool ballroom for MND research.
Prior to her life on the Look North sofa, Amy spend some time a Senior Journalist at BBC South Today and was a regular face on BBC3’s 60 second news for BBC 3..
Amy grew up in Wakefield and worked a Saturday job on the family Market stall selling towels and curtains- a job she credits for her love of talking and hearing peoples stories!
Her career in TV started at the age of 19 in Childrens, presenting programmes for CITV, and The Disney Channel. She also fronted a sports show for CBBC which involved getting Freddie Flintoff to play cricket with a baguette! She went on to front travel and property for SKY which sent her overseas to explore real estate and meet Brits who had taken the plunge to live abroad.
Amy is never one to shy away from a challenge. Ten years after leaving school, she decided to do an MA in TV Journalism at Goldsmiths University of London (2009) and has never looked back.
She now lives in York with her song writer husband Tim and their two young children.
Ian is a graduate metallurgist with a post graduate MSc in Management and Materials Technology and leadership credentials from the University of Oxford SaÏd business school.
Ian is responsible for the Quality and Technical teams and Continuous Improvement at Sheffield Forgemasters.
Ian has previously held roles as Managing Director of Vulcan SFM (Oil and Gas subsidiary including the office in Singapore), Group Manufacturing Director and Group Technical Director.
His focus is to lead high-performing teams that operate in an environment of trust and psychological safety, collaborating to identify opportunities for improvement and focused on achieving strategic goals.
Ian is a Member of The Cutlers Company of Hallamshire, recognising his contribution to engineering in Sheffield’s biggest manufacturing employer and is in line to be Master Cutler in 2026/2027. Ian is an advocate for working with local schools so that they better understand career opportunities in the Sheffield region. This work is closely aligned with the Sheffield Forgemasters apprenticeship scheme and other pre-apprentice community engagement.
After gaining BSc (Hons) and MSc degrees in Engineering Materials Technology at the University of Aston, Graham was awarded a PhD from Teesside University.
In 1987 he was awarded a Winston Churchill Medal for his study of supercritical steam turbine technology.
In 1997 he was awarded a silver medal from the Royal Academy of Engineering for outstanding contribution to British Engineering.
In 1988 Graham joined Sheffield Forgemasters as Technical Director. He led a management buyout of the Company and was appointed Chief Executive in 2005.
Graham was awarded a CBE in 2008.
At the IOD Director of the Year Awards in 2010, Graham won the Global Director of the Year.
In July 2012 Graham was awarded the Bessemer Gold Medal. He was voted the International Person of the Year at the YBI International Business Awards in May 2013 and named CEO Of the Year at the national Private Business Awards in September 2013.
In February 2013 Graham was made an Honorary Professor of Strategic Management at Sheffield University Management School and awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration at Teesside University in November 2013.
Graham left Sheffield Forgemasters in 2021 having set up his own consultancy Sarach Steel Technologies Ltd which he now runs as Managing Director
He is also Chairman of the Engineering and Manufacturing Route Panel for the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education since 2018
Philip Rodrigo is Senior Vice President for Human Resources and Organisation Development for Outokumpu, one of the largest stainless steel producers in the world with operations in the UK in Sheffield, internationally in Finland, Sweden, Germany, Holland, USA and Mexico and additional services centres and sales companies around the world.
Phil has worked in stainless steel for 35 years, starting in British Steel Stainless working in IT, Human Resources, Operations and General/Business Management and most recently in an Outokumpu Group level role.
He has been a Freeman of the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire for over 14 years, a Member since 2018 and was installed as the 385th Master Cutler on 1 October 2024.
Phil is a Council Member of the University of Sheffield and a former Alumni at Sheffield and also Warwick University. He is also the Honorary Consul of Finland for South Yorkshire.
Outside of work his interests centre around his family and playing golf. He is currently Captain of the Hallamshire Golf Club. Phil also takes a keen interest in ice hockey and the Army. He has previously played for the Sheffield Steelers and was commissioned into the REME (the corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers). Phil is currently proud to be part of the Military Education Committee for the Sheffield Universities.
Phil’s chosen charity for the Master Cutlers Challenge is the Sheffield Hospitals Charity focusing on supporting Dementia. This topic resonates with so many people and Phil hopes to have an impact throughout the South Yorkshire region.
As National Membership Director at Make UK, Jim and his team help thousands of manufacturers to solve some of their biggest challenges – whether that’s how to benefit from Industry 4.0, actions to take to mitigate supply chain challenges, or how to use the apprenticeship levy to upskill the workforce. A qualified Engineer, Jim has held manufacturing, production engineering and operations roles. He was also senior manufacturing specialist whilst at the Manufacturing Advisory Service where he delivered consultancy support to businesses which enabled them to make huge improvements in their productivity and competitiveness. Jim was also a director of the Engineering Development Trust.
Dame Julie Kenny is a successful South Yorkshire based entrepreneur. Julie was the founder of Pyronix Limited in 1986 - an advanced electronic manufacturing company designing award winning security systems. Only the third security company in the world to commence its design using state of the art manufacturing processes – automated surface mount machines with inline camera systems and inspection in 1986. In 1996 it won a security innovation award for its design of the first condition monitoring system of its burglar systems almost 26 years ago whereby the state of the system could be recorded and downloaded automatically to a computer at the Monitoring Station of the system.
Following the sale in 2016 Julie continues her involvement in serving business and local communities and currently holds several trustee/patron positions for diverse charitable organisations.
Julie is Chair of Robson Handling Technology Limited, a NED at AES Engineering Limited and SBD Apparel, a Director of IntelliAM, Chair of Sheffield Theatres Trust, Chair of a Multi Academy Trust and Founding Chair of Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust. A true levelling up project of the North.
Julie was Master Cutler for the Company of Cutler’s in Hallamshire in 22/23. Julie was honoured in Her Majesty the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in June 2019 with a Damehood for her work with heritage and particularly Wentworth Woodhouse. Julie’s CBE in 2002 and Honorary Doctorate from Sheffield Hallam University in 2005 were conferred in recognition of her contribution to business and young people in the region. Julie was awarded Freewoman of Rotherham in 2020.
Julie has served as a Deputy Lieutenant for South Yorkshire since 2005 and High Sheriff of South Yorkshire 2012/13. Julie was Women of the Year 2013, PWC Private Businesswoman of the year 2014 and received a Special Recognition Judges Award by Northern Power Women in 2018.
