Automate UK announces the appointment of New Chairman Peter Williamson

Pioneering manufacturing trade association Automate UK has announced the appointment of Peter Williamson as its new Chairman, succeeding James Causebrook, who stepped down this week having reached the end of his two-year term.

James’ term was a key period for the organisation incorporating its rebranding, the finessing of its core values and the enhancement of its offering to provide end-to-end support to members.

Formerly the PPMA Group of Associations, encompassing BARA and UKIVA, Automate UK was rolled out this year further to an extensive rebrand, cementing its reputation as the leading trade association for automation suppliers and end users of technology across processing, packaging, robotics and machine vision. 

The organisation now represents its membership across many new areas, overseeing networking events to unite a wealth of industries from agriculture to aerospace in collaboration with high-profile partners such as Siemens and Rockwell Automation.

Peter joined the association’s board in 2017, holding positions as Education Director, Finance Director and CEO/ Vice Chair prior to his appointment as Executive Chair.

James, who has been been involved with Automate UK in multiple capacities since 2018, and will serve as Finance Director in 2025, said: “It has been an incredible honour and privilege to be Chairman of Automate UK. The level of change we have achieved over the last two years means that I feel Automate UK is now more representative of its membership than ever before. Day in, day out, we are now fighting to create the best possible environment for our members to thrive.

“In Peter, as Executive Chair, we have an individual who brings a wealth of knowledge; both in running a member company and driving the association forward from his role as CEO. When you consider the amount of change Peter has been instrumental in since the rebrand, I think we can all be very excited about how he and his team will continue to drive innovation.”

Peter said: “I am honoured to take on the mantle of Chairman of Automate UK and am committed to the continuous improvement and evolution of the association. Over the past two years James has spearheaded significant, enduring change for members; Automate UK is now so much more than just an exhibition company - it’s a lobbying platform and a voice for the manufacturing industry that provides a unique space for its 600 plus members to network, congregate and collaborate to improve and drive the sector forward.

“Over the next two years, my goal is to drive automation forward by promoting the adoption of automation technologies, facilitating the upskilling of the manufacturing workforce to tackle skill shortages, supporting the growth of member companies and helping them make informed technology decisions.”

While exhibitions remain a core strength of the organisation’s offering, Automate UK is committed to lobbying for apprentice reforms, collaborating with associations to overcome industry challenges and supporting automation adoption across diverse sectors, and promoting the wares and abilities of its members to think tanks, political parties and fellow trade associations to support the advancement of the manufacturing sector.

Automate UK is focused on achieving four main goals to help drive the adoption of automation in UK manufacturing to secure its UK future. Those goals are: to foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship that supports the development and adoption of automation technologies; to invest in education and training to ensure that the UK’s workforce is equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in a rapidly changing workplace; to develop policies and strategies that support the adoption of automation across all sectors, including the creation of a national automation strategy, and to ensure that the benefits of automation are shared equitably across society and that the potential negative impacts are mitigated.