CMG AI for Manufacturers Summit
About this Event
Welcome to the CMG AI for Manufacturers Summit!
The CMG AI for Manufacturers Summit is a half-day working event for businesses across Cornwall who want to understand what AI actually means in practice, not the hype, but the real tools, workflows, and decisions that matter.
Hosted by the Cornwall Manufacturers Group, the summit brings together local business leaders, industry experts, and hands-on practitioners for a morning of keynotes, honest case studies, and open discussion.
The programme covers AI adoption and training, cyber security, open-source AI tools, vibe coding, and real-world deployment stories from Cornish businesses, giving you practical insight you can take back to your own organisation the same day.
While the event is shaped around manufacturing, all businesses are welcome. The themes and challenges we'll be exploring, productivity, automation, security, and building with AI, are relevant far beyond our sector.
What to expect:
- Keynote speakers from across the AI and technology landscape
- Two member case studies: honest, before-and-after accounts from Cornish businesses
- A facilitated roundtable discussion
- Coffee, lunch, and plenty of networking
Date: Wednesday 8 July 2026 Time: 09:00 – 14:00 Venue: Venton Ltd, Chapel Parc, Summercourt, Newquay, Cornwall TR8 5AH
Programme
09:00 – 09:10 | Welcome & Scene-Setting Harry Young-Jamieson, Chair, Cornwall Manufacturers Group
09:10 – 09:30 | Keynote 1: Eliot Prince, Prince AI Training AI adoption and training: practical workflows that save time
09:30 – 09:50 | Keynote 2: John Howell, HowTech AI and Cyber Security: what manufacturers need to know
09:50 – 10:10 | Keynote 3: Christopher Weavill, Hertzian AI on-premise and open source: taking control of your own AI stack
10:10 – 10:30 | Keynote 4: Caitlin Gould, TECgirls Cornwall Survey results: AI adoption among young people in Cornwall
10:30 – 11:00 | Coffee Break & Networking
11:00 – 11:20 | Keynote 5: Matthew Ville, Hiyield Vibe Coding: building software without coding expertise
11:20 – 11:40 | Keynote 6: Ishaan Makkar, Hexa Agents Agentic AI: the next frontier for business automation
11:40 – 12:00 | Case Study 1: Connor Kennedy, Western Mechanical Handling Building an MRP system with Claude Code
12:00 – 12:20 | Case Study 2: Pierre Zeeman, St Eval Candle Company St Eval's AI deployment journey
12:20 – 12:50 | Roundtable Discussion Barriers, wins, and next steps for AI in Cornish manufacturing
12:50 – 14:00 | Lunch & Networking
14:00 | Close
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*Speakers and/or speaker topics may change between now and the 8th of July.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
GBP 11.55
