Making flexibility work: Jennifer Castañeda-Navarrete shares new research at Women in Manufacturing conference

Dr Jennifer Castañeda-Navarrete, Principal Policy Analyst at Cambridge Industrial Innovation Policy (CIIP), presented key findings from the new Women in UK Manufacturing 2026 report, Time to flex: Building flexible manufacturing workplaces, at the annual Women in UK Manufacturing conference. She calls on manufacturers to rethink how work is organised to attract, retain and develop a more diverse workforce.

Held on 21 October at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) in Coventry, the conference brought together industry leaders, policymakers, researchers and practitioners to explore the theme Shifting the balance: flexing the future. The event was co-organised by IfM Engage, Innovate UK, and the High Value Manufacturing Catapult.

Leading the development of the report, Jennifer presented the latest evidence on women’s representation in UK manufacturing and explored how flexible working could help address some of the sector’s persistent workforce challenges.

Progress and the case for flexibility

The keynote began with an overview of progress and setbacks in women’s representation across manufacturing. Women accounted for 28.2% of the workforce in 2025, compared with 28.4% in 2024, highlighting the need to accelerate progress towards the ambition of 35% women in manufacturing by 2035. However, Jennifer also highlighted encouraging gains in traditionally male-dominated occupations, including managerial and senior leadership positions and skilled trades.

Turning to the report’s central theme, Jennifer challenged the idea that flexible working is incompatible with manufacturing. Drawing on workforce data, employee survey findings and practical examples from manufacturers, she highlighted how flexibility extends beyond remote and hybrid working to include more predictable shifts, flexible start and finish times, job sharing and alternative working arrangements.

The findings demonstrate the importance of flexibility for workforce retention. More than half (56%) of survey respondents reported that access to flexible working was very or extremely important to their decision to remain in their current job. Jennifer also emphasised that flexibility benefits a wide range of employees, including those with caring responsibilities, disabled and neurodivergent workers, and employees approaching retirement.

Through interactive audience polls, Jennifer invited delegates to reflect on common misconceptions about flexible working. She highlighted how operational requirements, workplace culture and managerial attitudes can limit access to flexibility, and encouraged organisations to challenge assumptions about what is possible across different manufacturing roles.

Turning evidence into action

Drawing on case studies and insights from organisations including HEINEKEN UK, Arla Foods, Beko and Lush, Jennifer outlined six practical actions manufacturers can take to introduce more flexible working practices. Developed in collaboration with Flexibility Works, these recommendations encourage organisations to listen to employees, identify realistic opportunities for change and test new approaches.

“These recommendations are about identifying realistic opportunities for change and building from there. Flexibility often starts with relatively small steps.”
Jennifer Castañeda-Navarrete

Jennifer invited delegates to consider one change their organisation could make over the next 12 months to create a more flexible workplace.

The session continued with discussions exploring how manufacturers are putting flexible working into practice, including a fireside chat featuring Anne-Frances Ball from Arla Foods and Lisa Gallagher from Flexibility Works. Jennifer was joined by report co-authors Rose Sargent, Policy Manager at Make UK, and Eun Sun Godwin, Senior Lecturer at the University of Wolverhampton Business School.

The event reinforced the importance of translating research evidence into practical action to build a more inclusive, competitive and resilient UK manufacturing sector.

Women in Manufacturing UK initiative

Established in 2022, the Women in Manufacturing UK (WiM UK) initiative brings together academics, practitioners and industry professionals to improve gender diversity and inclusion across UK manufacturing.

The annual Women in UK Manufacturing report supports WiM UK’s ambition of increasing women’s representation in the sector to 35% by 2035, providing insights into the barriers women face and practical recommendations for creating more inclusive workplaces.

Read the full Women in UK Manufacturing 2026 report: Time to flex: Building flexible manufacturing workplaces.