Yorkshire & The Humber

Jessica leads the delivery of the Made Smarter Yorkshire & Humber Programme. She is enthusiastic about seeing manufacturing businesses in our region grow and develop though digitalisation. She has over five years’ experience in economic development working closely with SME manufacturers and has delivered a range of capital grants and support programmes focused on boosting productivity across the region.

Jessica offers sector insight and a strong commitment to supporting local businesses. She is also a passionate advocate for diversity in industry and co-founded the West Yorkshire Women in Manufacturing & Engineering network (WiMEN) in early 2025. 

Fun fact: Jessica is a big board game fan and has a professional goal to encourage a Board Game manufacturer to set up in Yorkshire! 

Joseph is an Advanced Manufacturing Specialist working for the Made Smarter programme. He supports programme delivery through contract management, functionality, stakeholder management, and by assisting South Yorkshire businesses to access a range of complementary regional support programmes. 

With over 10 years’ experience in designing, developing, and delivering across a range of major innovation and skills initiatives across Yorkshire, Joseph has a proven track record of delivering measurable results across major innovation, business, and skills initiatives. 

Fun fact: Joseph has conceptualised, designed, and delivered two of his own programmes! These programmes were designed to make business access to public procurement contracts easier via a digital demonstrator (APPtitude); and providing children, teenagers, and adults with computer science skills whilst promoting the opportunities within the sector (#CodeYork).

Vernon is South Yorkshire’s Advisor for the Made Smarter programme, supporting manufacturing and engineering SMEs to embrace digital technologies that drive productivity, resilience and growth. With over 15 years’ experience in skills, business development, and stakeholder engagement, he has advised employers on workforce planning, training investment, and innovation adoption through roles at South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and The Source Skills Academy. Vernon brings a strong background in events, marketing, and partnership working, enabling him to connect businesses with the right support and funding to future-proof their operations across the region. 
  
Fun fact: Vernon successfully pitched the idea of a Sheffield Monopoly board game to the licensed producer of Monopoly city editions, bringing the city region its own version of the iconic game.    

Email: vernon.tolson@southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk
Telephone: 07919 111375

Mike has worked as Business Relationship Manager on the Made Smarter Yorkshire programme since 2022, helping SME’s scale and digitally transform their workplace and workforce. He is delighted to continue the great work of the Made Smarter Programme next year. 
Mike’s previous career spans across regional print & digital media. He started as a telesales canvasser at the Yorkshire Post and went on to become the Sales Director and Assistant Managing Director. Mike has held management and directors’ roles for the last 25 years in Radio, Marketing and regional media across Yorkshire and further afield. 

Fun fact: Mike has the same name as Johnny Vegas! 

Email: mike.pennington@ynygrowthhub.com
Telephone: 07919 222395

Nick is the Business Relationship Manager for West Yorkshire. He has worked at the West Yorkshire Combined Authority for five years, supporting small- and medium-sized businesses on a range of grant and advisory schemes. 
Nick previously delivered West Yorkshire Combined Authorities Business Sustainability Support for three years, helping firms to go greener by reducing their energy usage, waste and carbon footprint. He is qualified in Business Sustainability Management through the Cambridge Institute of Sustainability Leadership. Before joining West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Nick worked as a Project Manager at a furniture manufacturer in Leeds. 

Fun fact: Nick created and runs the UK’s only funny poem competition.
 
Email: nick.edwards@westyorks-ca.gov.uk
Telephone: 0113 348 1555

Les engages with Manufacturing SME’s across Hull and East Riding to explore and implement digital transformation projects linked to Made Smarter and other funding or training schemes offered by Hull and East Yorkshire Growth Hub. The combination of grant funding and specialist one to one advisory support packages are aimed to deliver innovation and implementation of Industrial Digital Technology. 

Fun Fact: Les is an avid sports watcher with an interest in different types of sports. He still plays for Gainsborough and Retford at Walking Football. He also enjoys a good Victorian novel with a glass of malt whisky, Scottish off course!  

Email: l.selby@heybusinessgrowthskillshub.com
Telephone: 07562 910840

As Programme Director, Vincent oversees all aspects of the design, delivery, review and development of Sheffield Hallam University’s Made Smarter course provision.

Vincent's career started as a Chartered Engineer with BT developing telecoms management systems. Following 2 years teaching in Ethiopia, he rejoined BT as a Senior Organisation Consultant leading large-scale organisation change projects. Following this Vincent led client services for a Leeds-based coach training firm and now, as Associate Professor of Change Leadership at Sheffield Hallam University, he leads work-based postgrad and executive education programmes, mainly for the manufacturing sector. Outside Made Smarter, Vincent supports the national Help to Grow Management programme and the Small Business Charter. 

Fun fact: I am a member of Sheffield Samba Band.