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Founder Geoff Ford to lead 100th Advanced Manufacturing Forum meeting

The Advanced Manufacturing Forum (AMF), an organisation set up to support the region’s manufacturing sector, is celebrating its 100th meeting tomorrow with a talk on diversification from its founder.

The AMF was launched in June 2006 by Geoff Ford OBE, of Ford Aerospace Limited and Ford Component Manufacturing Limited.

And to mark the major milestone, Mr Ford will be guest speaker, addressing the audience about how the industry has changed in the 10 years since it was founded, and how companies can diversify their markets.

Mr Ford will give a talk on company diversification and how businesses can be more agile to reap the benefits of growth, a hurdle faced by dozens of North East firms due to challenges within the markets in which they operate.

The businessman will share his experiences and expertise after rearing two successful firms through difficult trading conditions.

Representatives from other companies will also be on hand to relay their experiences of successful diversification.

Jack Hanwell, AMF’s development manager, said: “It is with great pleasure that we welcome Geoff to speak at our 100th meeting given that he was the man who launched the organisation 10 years ago.

“If it hadn’t been for Geoff creating this hub of connections and relationships between the manufacturing companies of the North, then we may be looking at a very different industrial picture right now. The meetings mean members can look to each other for help and guidance through difficult times, as well as sharing successes.”

He added: “Our 100th meeting will be particularly important to those companies who have found themselves caught up in the slump in the oil and gas sector, and are now looking around for opportunities to diversify, maybe looking into the nuclear, renewables, or automotive sectors.

“The fall in the oil price has seen an awful lot of redundancies and companies closing. As a consequence, we have decided to dedicate a meeting to diversification and how some companies have made it work.

“Geoff Ford is the perfect candidate to lead on this topic.”

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 17, between 12pm and 2.30pm at AMF’s offices in Eldon Street, South Shields.

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