West Midlands Growth Awards has nominated CEL Group and our Group Managing Director, Simon Cartwright, as manufacturing awards finalists.

The recognition of our vision and service to customers honours us as finalists in two Manufacturing Awards.

The Manufacturing Awards have selected Simon Cartwright as Growth Leader of the Year for his strategic thinking, leadership and drive. CEL Group earned recognition from the Manufacturing Awards in the Scale-up of the Year category for a £10m+ business.

Simon assumed leadership in 2022. He quickly established a new management team and launched a new five-year plan. Simon has raised CEL Group’s game. Changing the mission from delivering ‘a better experience of manufacturing in China’ to ensuring we provide ‘the best experience of manufacturing in China’ to our customers.

Simon Cartwright - Leadership

Under his leadership, CEL Group has grown successfully in the last 3–4 years. It moved to a new HQ in Telford to support its growing UK assembly, engineering, logistics and stock-holding services. We’ve been recruiting and developing manufacturing and customer services talent in the region to help UK OEMs retain and grow market share. It has been a tough time economically. Our subcontract manufacturing services enable customers to bring new, competitive products to markets such as healthcare and HVAC. We also support lighting, leisure, point of sale and many other key industrial sectors.

We’ve been investing in our people, operational facilities and equipment, as well as digital transformation in the UK. We have matched these investments with improvements in our facilities in China. For example, CEL Ningbo has doubled in size to 80,000 square feet with over 100 experienced engineers and manufacturing staff. It offers a very well-equipped manufacturing facility, including robotic welding. All backed by certifications, which means we partner with many leading healthcare brands who supply the NHS.

Successful Manufacturing in China

Manufacturing in China is not always viewed positively. However, with CEL Group’s unique services, a quality-controlled approach, and a UK-based team with colleagues in China, Simon and the team are proving that CEL Group’s approach to subcontract manufacturing is playing a key role in supporting UK manufacturing.

Interested in Award-Winning Manufacturing Competitive Advantage?

We’re pleased to receive the business recognition from these Manufacturing Awards. But most of all we’re here to help UK brands manufacture and compete cost-effectively and reliably.

We’d love to help you with an enquiry if you are looking for engineered manufacturing and a supply chain partner who adds more value to your business.