Red Sky Foundation is incredibly proud to have been the charity partner of the inaugural Manufacturing Leaders' Summit, hosted by Theo James Recruitment in partnership with New College Durham, which raised an outstanding £11,000 to help support babies, children and adults living with complex heart conditions across the North East.
Held in April, the event welcomed more than 190 manufacturing professionals, business leaders, educators and industry partners for a day dedicated to collaboration, innovation and knowledge sharing, while raising vital funds for Red Sky Foundation.
Created to bring together the region’s manufacturing community, the summit featured an inspiring programme of keynote speakers, panel discussions, breakout sessions and networking opportunities, encouraging meaningful conversations and strengthening relationships across the sector.
For Red Sky Foundation, the event represented far more than a fundraising opportunity. It created valuable new connections with businesses from across the North East and demonstrated the incredible impact that can be achieved when industry comes together to support a shared cause.
The £11,000 raised will help the charity continue funding specialist cardiac equipment, supporting NHS services, providing emergency financial assistance to families and installing lifesaving defibrillators in schools and communities across the UK.
Mark Bracknall, Managing Director of Theo James Recruitment, said: “The Manufacturing Leaders’ Summit was always about more than a one-day event. Our goal was to bring people together, create valuable connections and strengthen the relationships that help our industry thrive. To have achieved that while raising £11,000 for Red Sky Foundation makes the day even more special. Having lost my Dad five years ago to a cardiac arrest, it is a charity that means an awful lot to me and my family.”
A key part of the summit’s success was the partnership with New College Durham, recently recognised by the Department for Education as one of only a handful of Advanced Manufacturing Technical Excellence Colleges in the country. The college continues to play a leading role in developing the next generation of manufacturing talent and strengthening collaboration between education and industry.
Dr Sergio Petrucci MBE (Hon), Founder of Red Sky Foundation, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Theo James Recruitment, New College Durham and everyone who attended, sponsored and supported the Manufacturing Leaders’ Summit.
“Raising £11,000 is an incredible achievement, but what makes this event truly special is the number of people it has brought together.
Events like this not only raise vital funds that help us continue supporting babies, children and adults living with heart conditions, but they also create new partnerships that allow us to reach even more families in need.
“On behalf of everyone at Red Sky Foundation, thank you for believing in our mission and helping us continue making a real difference across our communities.”
Red Sky Foundation would also like to extend its sincere thanks to headline sponsor SST Group, comprising Dyer Engineering and Q-Laser Limited, whose support helped bring the vision for the Manufacturing Leaders’ Summit to life from the very beginning. Their early commitment played a significant role in establishing an event that has already made a lasting impact on both the manufacturing sector and the communities Red Sky Foundation serves.
The Manufacturing Leaders’ Summit has shown what can be achieved when industry, education and the charitable sector unite with a shared purpose. As new partnerships and conversations continue to develop following the event, Red Sky Foundation looks forward to seeing the summit grow in the years ahead.
From everyone at Red Sky Foundation, thank you to Theo James Recruitment, New College Durham, SST Group, every sponsor, speaker and attendee for making the inaugural Manufacturing Leaders’ Summit such a tremendous success. Together, you are helping improve cardiac care, support families when they need it most and save lives across our communities.
www.redskyfoundation.com