06
Oct 2026
22nd Sep 2026
For more than 30 years, manufacturing has shaped the story of Rowan Precision. From complex CNC machining and the development of young engineers to investment in technology, people and a more sustainable factory, the Birmingham precision engineering specialist will celebrate the industry it calls home this National Manufacturing Day.
Taking place on Thursday 24 September, National Manufacturing Day is organised by Make UK and brings manufacturers across the country together to showcase modern industry and the careers, skills and technologies behind it. For Rowan Precision, the occasion provides an opportunity to celebrate what manufacturing looks like today – and the people who will shape where it goes next.
At the heart of that future are young engineers. Rowan continues to invest in apprenticeships and skills development, working with Make UK to give apprentices the opportunity to build their careers within a modern precision engineering environment. They are learning their trade alongside experienced engineers and working around sophisticated CNC technology used to manufacture high-quality precision components for demanding sectors.
CFO Glenn Aston believes giving young people a clear route into engineering is one of the most important investments a manufacturer can make.
“Manufacturing has given generations of people the opportunity to build rewarding, highly skilled careers, and we want that to continue for the next generation,” said Glenn.
“When you walk through Rowan, you see experienced engineers working alongside apprentices who are developing their skills and beginning their own careers. That transfer of knowledge is incredibly important to us.
“We want young people to see manufacturing as an exciting career choice. Modern engineering brings together technology, problem solving, precision and continuous learning. There are so many directions a career can take.”
Investing in modern manufacturing
That commitment to the future extends across Rowan’s Birmingham facility. The company has continued to invest in its manufacturing environment, combining advanced CNC machining capability with a programme of responsible investment designed to improve efficiency and support the long-term development of the business.
Recent projects have included upgraded LED lighting across the manufacturing floor, solar PV, Automated Monitoring & Targeting technology and a modern energy-efficient compressor. The programme reflects the changing demands placed on UK manufacturers, where productivity, energy efficiency, quality and sustainability increasingly sit alongside one another in investment decisions.
“For us, responsible investment is about creating a manufacturing business that is equipped for the future,” Glenn continued. “Every investment has to contribute to the way we operate, whether that is through our machining capability, the environment our team works in, energy efficiency or the skills we develop within the business.
“There is something very satisfying about seeing those investments come together on the shop floor. Manufacturing is always evolving, and that gives us the opportunity to keep improving.”
Precision backed by quality
Quality remains central to that approach. Rowan Precision operates to AS9100 alongside ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 13485 accreditation, supporting the manufacture of precision components for sectors where consistency, traceability and process control are fundamental requirements. Its production capability includes multi-axis CNC machining, 13-axis sliding head machines and twin-spindle fixed-head CNC mill-turn machining centres, allowing complex components to be produced to demanding tolerances.
For Rowan, those capabilities also demonstrate how far perceptions of engineering can differ from the reality of a modern manufacturing business. Today’s precision engineering environment combines advanced machinery, digital systems, rigorous quality processes and highly skilled people. Apprentices entering the industry are joining a sector where technical knowledge develops alongside new technology throughout a career.
National Manufacturing Day provides manufacturers with a platform to tell that story.
“We love manufacturing because you can see what people create,” added Glenn. “You can see an apprentice developing into an engineer, you can see an investment changing the way the factory operates and you can see a component progress from a drawing through to a finished precision part.
“There is a tremendous amount of skill behind all of that. National Manufacturing Day gives our industry the chance to celebrate those skills and encourage more people to become part of it.”
Celebrating UK manufacturing
For Rowan Precision, the day also provides a chance to recognise the wider manufacturing community. Britain’s industrial base encompasses businesses of every size, supported by engineers, apprentices, production teams, quality specialists and many other professions working across the sector. Rowan wants the next generation to see themselves as part of that community. As National Manufacturing Day arrives, the message from the Birmingham manufacturer is a simple one: manufacturing offers ambitious people the opportunity to learn, create and build a career around skills that matter. And after more than three decades of precision engineering, Rowan Precision remains every bit as enthusiastic about making things.
“We are proud to be a UK manufacturer,” concluded Glenn. “We are proud of our apprentices, proud of the skills across our team and proud to keep investing in our Birmingham operation. Manufacturing has an exciting future, and we want Rowan Precision and the next generation of engineers coming through our doors to play their part in it.”