Cutting Edge, Human Core: Factory Tour at Exactaform
Tucked into Coventry’s Central Boulevard, Exactaform’s purpose-built headquarters makes a statement before you even step inside. The glass-fronted entrance floods the reception with light, more reminiscent of a contemporary design space than a traditional factory. Clean lines and open space set the stage for what lies within: a manufacturer that has married technical precision with a culture designed for growth.
On the day of the Factory Tour, Made in Group members pulled into the forecourt, stepping into a facility designed not just for today’s production but for tomorrow’s expansion.
The morning carried a sense of anticipation. Exactaform, once a small operation, now employs over 100 people and supplies advanced cutting tools to aerospace, motorsport, and automotive sectors worldwide. For members, the event promised more than a tour - it offered a glimpse into how a Midlands SME has scaled into a global player without losing its identity.
Steve Walker of Frederick Cooper (Birmingham) and Thomas Gwynn of Armstrong Group networking with John Inglis, Founder of Exactaform.
Presentation: Culture by Design
Managing Director Jamie White set the tone with a candid presentation. He traced Exactaform’s journey from a small factory to an international business, stressing that growth required more than machines and markets - it demanded systems and culture.
When you’re small, you can make it up as you go along. But growth plateaus unless you move to systems. People run the systems, and the systems run the business.
Jamie explained how the team replaced corridor conversations with structured communication, defined responsibilities, and long-term planning. He dismissed the idea of culture as simply happy faces and reframed it as how things get done.
To make culture tangible, Exactaform turned to CultureNav, an AI-driven platform that collects employee feedback through surveys, one-to-ones, and digital tools. The system analyses recurring themes and produces quarterly reports, giving managers data they cannot ignore. This shift has strengthened recruitment, improved retention, and encouraged employees to share their pride publicly.
Exactaform MD Jamie White on linking culture with results.
On the Factory Floor
The tour brought these ideas to life. Members walked through rows of CNC and EDM machines, where engineers inspected tooling and collaborated with automated systems. The atmosphere was calm and focused. Employees carried on with confidence, unconcerned by visitors observing their work - a subtle signal of the trust and openness running through the business.
The facility itself told a story of investment and ambition. Purpose-built with future growth in mind, it still holds space for expansion. As members moved through the building, the scale of the company’s aspirations became clear.
Martyn Biddle, Engineering Manager at Exactaform remarked with pride:
The pace here never slows. Every visit shows something new - machines, ideas, opportunities.
Factory Tour participants get a close-up view of Exactaform’s technology in action.
Q&A: Lessons from the Founder and Future Vision
The morning closed with a Q&A session. Founder John Inglis spoke with humility about leadership built over four decades.
I’m no different to Fred Smith sweeping the road. It’s about friendship, trust, and giving back what people give to you.
Members pressed further on growth and culture. Jackie Watkins of Hyfore Workholding turned the discussion towards growth, asking about plans for expansion. Jamie White responded with clarity:
Our group turnover currently stands at £13.5m across the globe. In five years, our UK portion will be £20m, the US portion will be £20m, and overall we’ll hit £50m. In ten years, we’ll be the biggest cutting tool manufacturer in terms of UK market share and recognised as a global brand.
His answer combined vision with pragmatism, acknowledging the pressure of scaling while reaffirming the need to preserve Exactaform’s agility and fast customer response.
The discussion also touched on change management, with Jamie recalling lessons from relocating into the current facility. Even well-intentioned communication fell short, he admitted, because employees felt decisions had been made for them rather than with them. The takeaway: communication only works when people feel they have a voice.
Members of Made in Group listen intently during the Q&A session at the Exactaform Factory Tour.
Takeaways for Members
The Exactaform tour offered members more than a look at advanced machinery. It revealed how leadership, systems, and culture intertwine to shape sustainable growth. Jamie demonstrated that scaling requires structure; John reminded everyone that trust remains the foundation. Together, they showed how a manufacturer can expand internationally while staying true to the values that built its strength.
As Jamie concluded:
Processes can be copied, machines can be bought. But the way your people interact - that’s your true competitive advantage.
L–R: Peter Raynor, President Exactaform USA; Jason Pitt, CEO Made in Group; John Inglis, Founder Exactaform; Ilona Pitt, Director Made in Group; Jamie White, MD Exactaform; Martyn Biddle, Engineering Manager Exactaform; Dan White, Exactaform.