*PLEASE NOTE* KMFG is now a CLOSED GROUP specifically set up to support the Manufacturing & Engineering organisations in Kent & Medway, including education providers.
** Only registered attendees will be admitted to the event ** Please book your place now to avoid disappointment.
Pictures may be taken at this event. If you do not wish your picture to be taken, please let us know ahead of the event.
Kent & Medway Manufacturing Focus Group (KMFG) is a networking and business group for Manufacturing & Engineering organisations across Kent and Medway offering a unique access to peers and colleagues, sector specific information, advice and support.
The group meets every last Wednesday of the month, alternating between face to face meetings and site visits, see our website for details of future events https://kentemployerskillsplan.org/
KMFG is open to all manufacturing and engineering organisations in Kent & Medway alongside education providers, whether they are chamber members or not.
Lunch will be provided on arrival with tea and coffee as well as the opportunity to network with other local business representatives before our keynote speakers.
KMFG will enable the Manufacturing & Engineering sector to influence in a more concerted way the different agenda’s that are key to business growth and success.
Headline Speaker: Judy Diamond, Azets
Featuring: William Wilsnagh and Chitra Cherodian, Made Smarter South East
Manufacturers across Kent and Medway are under increasing pressure to improve productivity, control costs and remain competitive in the face of rising input prices, labour shortages and rapid technological change. Digitalisation and automation offer significant opportunities — but only when investment decisions are well planned, funded appropriately and aligned to business strategy.
At this KMFG, Judy Diamond from Azets will lead a practical session exploring how manufacturing and engineering businesses can better assess the return on investment (ROI) from digital and automation initiatives, avoid common pitfalls, and ensure capital investment delivers long‑term efficiency, resilience and growth.
Made Smarter South East – Funding & Support
We are also pleased to welcome William Wilsnagh from Made Smarter South East, who will provide an overview of the funding, advice and support available to help manufacturers take the next step in their digital and automation journey.
Made Smarter South East supports manufacturing SMEs to:
This session will help connect the investment decision‑making insights provided by Azets with the practical support available through Made Smarter, ensuring businesses understand not only why to invest, but also how to access the right resources to do so.
Why this matters
As manufacturing becomes increasingly technology‑enabled, businesses are making more frequent and often complex investment decisions. Understanding how to prioritise investment, manage risk, and secure support is critical to improving productivity, maintaining competitiveness and building long‑term resilience.
By bringing together financial insight, practical delivery experience and funding support, this KMFG session will provide a rounded, actionable view to help manufacturers move forward with confidence.
Judy has over 30 years of business experience. She grew up in a family business which started from scratch and grew to £10 million turnover – so she had entrepreneurship baked in at an early age.
Seeking formal business training, she studied economics at Cambridge University, and on graduating, joined KPMG, a top 4 multinational accounting and consultancy firm. She joined Azets in 2010 to support small businesses to help them transform digitally: leveraging the benefits of software to better control their costs, clearly monitor their sales and optimise their business as a whole.
After a period working as an independent consultant, she rejoined Azets in 2022 and now serves as a Business Advisor in the Kent region, providing actionable advice and support for businesses in the region.
William brings over 30 years of business experience, including more than 20 years in ownership and senior leadership
roles across IT, cybersecurity, gaming, recruitment, and manufacturing. With an early foundation in electrical engineering, he transitioned into IT, attaining international certifications, an MSc in Information Systems, and a Professional Certificate in Executive Coaching for Behavioural Change.
He has held positions as Managing Director, CEO, and Non-Executive Director, developing strong expertise in improving operations and driving business performance. His strategic leadership has supported sustainable growth across organisations in South Africa, the UK, Europe, and the Americas.
In recent years, William has focused on supporting SME business owners to grow and strengthen their enterprises. He joined Surrey County Council in April 2024 as a Business Advisor for Business Surrey and now applies his expertise as a Technology Adoption Specialist for the Made Smarter South East programme.
Chitra is an experienced Organisation and Workforce Development professional with over 10 years’ expertise across
financial services, banking, energy, and pensions. She specialises in designing and delivering strategic learning initiatives that build workforce capability, support organisational change, and improve performance.
She has a strong track record in workforce planning and capability development, delivering onboarding, cross-skilling, and compliance programmes aligned to business priorities. Skilled in learning needs analysis, Chitra identifies organisational skills gaps and translates them into practical, scalable solutions, supporting businesses through transformation, regulatory change, and evolving ways of working.
A collaborative practitioner, she works closely with stakeholders at all levels to ensure measurable impact, while leading training teams and embedding a culture of continuous improvement through coaching and inclusive learning design.
Chitra combines strong project management and analytical skills with expertise in digital learning platforms. She is passionate about enabling people and organisations to thrive through accessible, high-impact development solutions.
