The future of machining isn’t defined by CNC technology alone — it’s shaped by the people who operate it and pass their expertise on. That belief sat at the heart of the final Made in Yorkshire factory tour event of 2025, hosted here at Colchester Machine Tool Solutions.
We welcomed 40 industry professionals to our European Technology Centre in Elland, ranging from Managing Directors and Operations Leaders to Sales Managers and Engineering Apprentices. With barista coffee in hand, guests settled into relaxed networking before the morning officially began.
Welcome & Setting the Scene
Our Managing Director, Jonathan Wright, opened the event by sharing a brief overview of who we are today. With more than a century of heritage behind the Colchester, Harrison and Pratt Burnerd brands, and over 100,000 machines installed worldwide, Jonathan highlighted our continued commitment to dependable machine tools and long-term customer support.
He also touched on how our offering has evolved — including CNC and manual turning solutions, automation support, bespoke engineering work, and a spares and service operation backed by £4 million in stock. It set a clear tone for the day: heritage, innovation and support for British manufacturers.
Inside the Technology Centre
Guests were then taken onto the shopfloor for a guided tour of our live demonstration area. Engineers showcased conversational control, advanced G-code, manual turning and CNC capability, walking delegates through practical setup considerations, tooling, error reduction and ways to help both machinists and apprentices develop confidence quickly.
The message was clear: technology has never been more capable, but its value relies entirely on people being equipped to get the most from it. For anyone who couldn’t attend, our 3D Virtual Factory Tour offers the same peak inside our facilities, just online.
The Wider Workforce Picture
After the tour, the conversation broadened to the challenges shaping the machining workforce across the region. Manufacturing contributes £7.7bn to West Yorkshire’s economy, yet with an average skilled-worker age of 54, retirements are happening faster than new talent can replace them. Education providers face similar pressures, with limited machine time and curriculum demands affecting how work-ready young engineers can be.
These realities created the ideal lead-in to the morning’s interactive poll.
Live Skills Poll: What Manufacturers Told Us
In the final part of the event, Jonathan Wright and Mark Lewis, CEO of West Yorkshire Manufacturing Services, facilitated a live QR poll capturing real-time insight from the room.
Key findings included:
Skills remain the biggest long-term concern
Attendees ranked attracting and developing skilled people above all other future challenges, with rising operational costs close behind.
Only 10% feel 'very confident' in their future workforce
Most businesses feel only 'somewhat prepared' and acknowledged the need for clearer long-term planning.
Two-thirds have low confidence in the education system
Delegates praised young people’s enthusiasm but felt schools, colleges and universities are struggling to deliver industry-ready machining talent.
Soft skills matter most
Communication, teamwork and problem-solving ranked ahead of narrow technical ability — aligning closely with our own experience supporting machinists at Colchester.
The biggest barriers to training? Time, cost and awareness
Real-world commercial pressures, rather than lack of interest, are what hold businesses back.
These insights gave Mark the opportunity to introduce early thinking around a collaborative Training Academy being explored with Colchester and WYMS — a response that would certainly be welcomed by industry.
Final Thoughts
This event offered more than factory access — it created an honest space for manufacturers to discuss shared challenges and explore solutions together. The live poll added clarity, the demonstrations provided inspiration, and the early look at future training plans signalled practical support on the horizon.
Above all, the morning reaffirmed a shared commitment:
British manufacturers care deeply about their people — and we care deeply about British manufacturers.
If you couldn’t join us, you can still take a closer look at our facility through our 3D Virtual Factory Tour, available on our website.