Chris Ready to Drive Change in Manufacturing.

The Manufacturing Institute has appointed Chris Beadsworth, previously UK Managing Director of Landis and Gyr, as its new commercial director.

The Manchester-based Manufacturing Institute, which delivers the Manufacturing Advisory Service North West (MAS NW), has been helping the region’s manufacturing businesses to gain competitive advantage from high impact skills building and productivity improvement programmes for more than a decade.

Chris, who has over 20 years’ experience of manufacturing products across differing sectors, had been MD at the utility metering products manufacturer Landis and Gyr since the business was first carved out of Siemens Metering in 2002.

Prior to that he had held senior positions with Siemens Metering including general manager of its UK operations.

He joins the Manufacturing Institute’s senior management team as the organisation works in partnership with The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) to drive forward the Agenda for Change programme – with a target of delivering some £100m in productivity improvements across the region by 2009.

The Manufacturing Institute is also widening its employee development programmes with a new MSc in Manufacturing Leadership, delivered in partnership with the six-star Lancaster University Management School.

Chris commented: "The Manufacturing Institute is ready to offer even more help and support to the region’s manufacturers to maintain the North West’s position as the top UK manufacturing region and to ensure that our businesses win in today and tomorrow’s fiercely competitive global marketplace."

Over a three year period MAS NW has helped North West manufacturers to make £50.2m of productivity and skills improvements, equating to an average boost of £260,000 per participating company.

For more information: www.manufacturinginstitute.co.uk