In conversation with Donna Edwards: Manufacturing Leader of the Year

Congratulations on winning Manufacturing Leader of the Year. How did this recognition feel? 

My initial reaction was one of shock, really. I don’t usually win things, and I’m much more comfortable in the background rather than stood up front getting the applause. It was a surprise, and quite a humbling experience.

I'm very proud of what I've achieved, but it’s also important to note that it isn’t just about me. Made Smarter has always been a team effort, involving colleagues, partners, businesses, and stakeholders throughout the whole process. Although we designed something, it was the ongoing feedback and engagement from businesses that helped us refine it and make sure the programme worked in practice.

That sense of collaboration is true across everything we deliver at GC. None of our programmes succeed because of one person alone. They work because teams come together, we listen to the people we’re trying to support, and we continually adapt what we do based on real‑world feedback.

So, while it’s lovely to be recognised personally, it reflects the contribution of so many others too. 

How has your manufacturing background shaped the way you approach leading Business Support & Business Finance today?

My real driver is problem‑solving and making things better. I understand what it’s like to translate complex policies and processes into something practical that actually works on the ground. That’s a big part of what we do at GC - taking policies and contracts and designing solutions that genuinely support people, businesses, and communities.

For these solutions to work, you need people who understand the sectors they’re working with. It’s why we place so much importance on having colleagues with lived experience in the industries we support.

Equally, listening to feedback is also crucial. Sometimes you learn more from the things that don't work than you do from the things that appear to be working. That feedback, especially from the more challenging situations, is what moves things forward. It certainly played a huge part in shaping Made Smarter.

Ultimately, everything we do involves collaboration with others. Sometimes those relationships work, and sometimes they don’t, and if you can’t fix it then the best thing you can do is take a step back and reassess.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme was ‘Give to Gain’. How does that resonate with your own journey as a woman in manufacturing and leadership?

In my first manufacturing leadership role, I was the only female manager. Out of a workforce of around 400 people, there were only 19 women, and I was the only one in the factory. I felt I had to be twice as good to be taken seriously.

When I moved from Swindon up to Littleborough, it was a huge leap, and I nearly didn’t go through with it. My manager at the time was an incredible mentor. He let me try things, make decisions, and learn, but he was there when the challenges came too. That support made such a difference.

I try to pay that forward. I’m part of the mentor scheme we have at GC, and I’ve always tried to give others the same support I’ve been fortunate to receive. Most of the people I’ve mentored have been women, often from diverse or had challenging backgrounds. A lot of the time they don’t see their own potential or abilities, but you can see it in them, and a big part of mentoring is helping them recognise it themselves so they can confidently take that next step forward. With the right encouragement and the right environment, people can be their best selves - and I’ve seen that happen a number of times through my career.

We all have moments where confidence dips but having a safe place and a network of trusted people who you can talk to is really important.

To finish, what one piece of advice would you give to someone else?

Be yourself. I tried very hard early in my career to be what I thought people expected me to be, and it wasn’t a good place to be. Then somebody said to me: "You have to be you, and you have to do it as you, and if you can't, then that's the wrong place for you."

That advice has stayed with me throughout my career, so that’s the advice I would give to anybody.