Mark Kempton, Chief Advisor at Dynex, started at the company as an engineering apprentice back when it was called Marconi Electronic Devices Ltd.

He then moved into management positions within the company and held several roles including Operations Director and Chief Executive Officer.  

In May, Mark was welcomed as the new chair of the LEP Manufacturing Board and in his blog, he discusses his previous experience and skills as well as his goals for the manufacturing board going forward.

At the beginning of this year, I moved into my new role as Chief Advisor for Dynex and the semiconductor division of our parent company. This change has given me the time to take on the position of Chair of the Manufacturing Board.  
 
I am a big believer in supporting the local supply chain and helping other manufacturing businesses in the area, so I was very pleased to accept the role. 
 
Having been a member of the board for many years, I had always been impressed by the achievements of the board under my predecessor Darren Joint and I look forward to continuing this work. 
 
I also represent Dynex on the CBI Regional Council and the Make UK Regional Advisory Board, and I am a member of the Institute of Engineering and Technology and the Institute of Directors. 
 
Having started my career as an apprentice I recognise the importance of good vocational training opportunities and apprenticeships, which are vital to nurture the next generation of skilled workers. I think this experience will be extremely valuable to me as Chair, as I have seen and experienced everything in the industry having worked my way up through the ranks. 
 
I am also passionate about supporting small and micro businesses in the industry, and as I settle into my role I am keen to visit these businesses to find out their specific challenges and how we can help them.  
 
The Greater Lincolnshire Engineering and Manufacturing (GLEAM) Network, which was initiated last year, has established a community for our manufacturing businesses to connect, supporting the growth and development of these organisations. The network promotes innovation, collaboration and cutting-edge technology, acting as a bridge between academia and the industry. 
 
Building on this, the Manufacturing Board is focusing on a number of key priorities to help support Greater Lincolnshire manufacturing. These are: 

  • Raising awareness of the importance of manufacturing in Greater Lincolnshire 
  • Providing a voice for Greater Lincolnshire to be recognised as an important location for manufacturing 
  • Helping the board achieve a broader reach and presence across Greater Lincolnshire 
  • Helping SMEs, small and micro businesses to improve productivity and efficiency 

 
The board is also focused on the challenges of upskilling employees, digitalisation and energy reduction and efficiency. These challenges are seen across a number of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP’s priority sectors, and collaboration with these other sectors may be key to solving these issues. 
 
My main aspiration for the future of the manufacturing sector in Greater Lincolnshire is for the revenue and profitability of the sector to grow and help boost the local economy. I would also like to see a greater recognition of the industry in Greater Lincolnshire and more understanding of the opportunities manufacturing can bring to the county. 
 
Every member of the manufacturing board is keen to give small businesses across Greater Lincolnshire a voice and to improve the industry for businesses of every size. It is important that the manufacturing industry is recognised for the impact it has on the county, and we will do our best to spread the word. 

Find out more about the what manufacturing sector is doing here.
Find out more about manufactruing in Greater Lincolnshre here.
Find out more about the support available for the sector here.