Hundreds of manufacturing leaders gathered at The Mere Golf Resort and Spa in Knutsford for a four-day conference to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Manchester-based Manufacturing Institute.

Chancellor George Osborne greeted the delegates with a video message welcoming them to his Tatton constituency and praised The Manufacturing Institute for 20 years of educating, inspiring and improving manufacturing. The conference kicked off with site visits to key manufacturers across the North West including Unilever and Bentley Motors, and followed with speaker sessions and a golf tournament.

Speakers included Dr Ania Servant, research fellow at the National Graphene Institute at Manchester University, and the founder of Fairphone, the world's first ethical mobile phone company, Bas Van Abel.

During a dinner hosted by BBC Breakfast presenter Steph McGovern, Wilmslow business woman Vanda Murray OBE was given a special award for Constancy Of Purpose in manufacturing. Vanda is a highly regarded non executive director in several UK PLC's, including Manchester Airports Group, Carillion, Chemring, Fenner Precision Engineering and Exova.

www.manufacturinginstitute.co.uk