Meet our team!

​In order to assure the best support for your business, our team provides a unique combination of skills and knowledge. We believe that experience of our people is vital for delivering high-quality coaching and business support, so much needed in these challenging times. Our team of advisors gained commercial experience working within the manufacturing sector as well as delivering consultancy projects and impactful business support programmes. We are pleased to introduce our team in below section:
Steve Gregory
Head of regional engagement at university of huddersfield
Steve is an experienced leader with strong background in manufacturing, production, continuous improvement and lean techniques. Steve has spent number of years holding senior positions at companies such as British Gas, AGFA, DuPont, Polestar and Cadbury Trebor Bassett. In the past, Steve also ran the Manufacturing Advisory Service in Yorkshire/Humber for 5 years. Most recently, Steve joined The University of Huddersfield as Head of Regional Engagement and Director of Leeds City Region Manufacturing Supply Chain Programme.
Steve’s expertise includes:
·        Strategic Business Planning
·        Program Management
·        Lean Manufacturing
·        People Development
·        Quality Systems
·        Continuous Improvement
·        Process Improvement
·        Leadership Development
·        Quality Systems
·        Change Management
·        Flexibility and Agile Management
Ian Rhodes
Supply chain advisor

​Ian is grounded in the manufacturing sector specifically production and operations engineering, and general factory management. Ian has gained substantial experience supporting a wide range of organisations from start-ups and early stage businesses, SME’s and blue chip companies, working across the UK and overseas.

Ian is well known with many contacts across the Leeds City Region and has managed and delivered many public sector funded programmes, delivered by commercially focused organisations.

His focus has always been to help clients identify and implement changes to increase operational performance and efficiencies to increase bottom line returns, working specifically with clients in the manufacturing and service sectors.
Don McCombe
Supply chain advisor


​Don has extensive manufacturing experience across multiple sectors from metal pressings, CNC engineering, powder pressing, food processing, metals processing and surface engineering and CNC plastic injection moulding.
The sectors that Don has worked in range from Medical devices, Healthcare products, Personal and Health and Beauty products, Automotive, Magnets from rare earth powder and food processing.
His range of experience is gained from Global Blue chips through to SME manufacturers and he has engaged in Board level roles as well as Business leader roles in business turnarounds and transformation of businesses.
Don has also worked within the Manufacturing Advisory Programme and is well known across many businesses in Leeds City region and beyond.
Rob Woollin
supply chain advisor

​​Rob Woollin, Account Manager (EMES, North of England) is currently working as one of the Account Managers for EMES for NPL North of England based in the 3M Buckley Innovation Centre. As part of our team, he is looking to support manufacturing businesses across the Northern Powerhouse, with any challenge of complex measurement across all engineering sectors.

Rob has 25 years’ experience in the textile sector, plus experience of government-backed business support programmes such as MAS (Manufacturing Advisory Service).
Steve Goodare
Supply chain advisor

​Steve is a highly qualified Business Advisor with over 10 years’ experience working with manufacturers and associated companies on national and local business support programmes. After over 30 years working in the private sector Steve joined the Manufacturing Advisory Service in 2009, which evolved into the Business Growth Service in 2014.
When the BGS was disbanded in 2016 Steve set up his consultancy business and has since assisted many local businesses with implementation of ISO compliant systems. He also works as a Growth Specialist for the Sheffield City Region Growth Hub.
John McSweeney
supply chain advisor

Having spent 30 years in the textile industry, 17 of which running his own business, John has spent the past 12 years in business support, co-founding successful business support organisation, Innovate Now and from 2013 as a freelance business consultant and innovation coach. He was instrumental in the successful delivery of the Textile Growth Programme, working for Manchester Growth Company, which was a £30 million grant investment fund for development of the sector.

​Additionally, John has developed in-depth networks embedded within the Knowledge Base community, particularly Universities and research establishments, as well as many other extensive networks in product design, intellectual property and sector specialist support communities.
Harry Govan
Compliance Administration Manager

Having a background in construction, both as an Architectural Technical and as a site engineer, Harry has spent over 30 years, initially in construction then in business support, 17 working overseas, on grant funded projects both in construction and in business development and support. 
Harry has previously run his own consultancy business and have extensive knowledge of grant support management.
Paula Kennedy
​Office Administrator

Paula is responsible for providing administrative support functions for the Supply Chain Programme. Her focus is to give a professional service for the team to ensure all processes are in line with the University’s policies and regulations.
Paula is highly experienced and motivated administration specialist with 20 years of experience; primarily working at the University of Huddersfield. She is self-motivated, experience of numerous technology systems, business correspondence, scheduling, document control and report generation.
Mirek Raba
Supply chain analyst

​Mirek is a Supply Chain Management professional with a strong academic background with a BSc in Logistics and Supply Chain Management and MBA. Mirek gained sound experience in supply chain management working across European operations for an international businesses in the FMCG sector.

Mirek is also one of the first Novus Trust Scheme graduates and in 2019 has been listed in The Logistics 100 in the Rising Star category. The Logistics 100 is a list of the UK logistics industry’s most influential players. Mirek’s current role focuses on strategic analysis of supply chains across primary sectors in the Leeds City Region.