About the Taskforce

The West Midlands Industrial Energy Taskforce was established by the Mayor in August 2022 to identify ways manufacturers in our region can be supported through the energy crisis and to lobby government on their behalf. It is a business-led panel that will be making urgent recommendations to the Mayor and government to minimise the impact of the current crisis on West Midlands jobs and the regional economy.

Taskforce Members

Matthew Rhodes

Taskforce Chair

Matthew Rhodes is chair of the Taskforce. He is managing director of Camirus Limited, and has worked in manufacturing and clean energy for over 30 years. Since 2016, he has led efforts across the West Midlands to secure industrial and commercial advantages from the energy transition, initially as a board member of GBSLEP and subsequent to the creation of the Combined Authority as the private sector chair of WMCA Energy Capital. Since 2021 he has also led the Black Country Industrial Cluster Project, Repowering the Black Country.

Rossella Cardone

Director, Sustainability - JLR

Rossella was appointed to the position of Director in January 2022 to lead the Sustainability Office, with responsibility for helping Jaguar Land Rover to define the sustainability strategy, approach and targets for the company, and achieve its net zero ambition across vehicles, supply chain, and operations.

Corin Crane

WM Chambers of Commerce

Corin is the Group Chief Executive of the Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce (CWCC) which includes Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber Training and Destination Coventry. Corin was Director of the Leicester & Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership where he had overall responsibility for around £200m of funds to drive regeneration and help local businesses grow. Also, he chaired the European Structural Funds Committee and lead on the Area Review for Leicestershire. In 2016 Corin became the Chief Executive of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce who are secretariat for the Black Country All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) and lead on the creation of the Black Country Business Festival which became the second biggest festival of its kind in the UK. Before this, Corin had roles with the TUC in Yorkshire and Humberside, Advantage West Midlands Rural Regeneration, Learning and Skills Council and Telford and Wolverhampton Councils heading up Economic Development and Inward Investment teams.

Martin Dudley

Chairman - Thomas Dudley

Martin graduated from Brunel University as a manufacturing engineer in 1991. He spent a short time working at Rover Group, with whom he had been sponsored, before going to work at Thomas Dudley Limited, a family business, in 1992. Thomas Dudley Group Limited is a well-established fourth generation family business based in Dudley, West Midlands. It employs almost 500 people and makes components for the building and plumbing industry, water companies and trade OEM customers. The company turned over £50M in 2019. Within the group there are two modern iron foundries, two plastic injection moulding businesses, zinc diecasting and waterfitting manufacturing. Martin took an MBA through Wolverhampton University in 1998 and is passionate about increasing the skills both within his businesses and also the local area, and works closely with schools, colleges, the university and trade associations, most notably helping to establish the first foundry training college to be set up in the last 30 years.

Rachel Graville

Managing Director - William King

Rachel Graville is the fourth-generation managing director of William King, which operates four technically advanced facilities in West Bromwich, Walsall, Washington in the North East and in the Czech Republic, and adds value to supply chains by supply chain management, processing and just-in-time delivery of metals. The company currently works with several high-profile customers across the automotive, domestic appliance, metal packaging and general industry sectors, with the recent acquisition of Firsteel giving it the capability to provide specialist coated metals.

Cheryl Hiles

Director - WM Energy Capital

Cheryl is Director of Energy Capital at the WMCA. She is driving the delivery of the West Midlands Regional Energy Strategy and energy devolution ask to Government, to ensure the West Midlands has the necessary tools, powers and resources to meet its green recovery and net zero ambitions. Cheryl pioneered the West Midlands Net Zero Pathfinder programme and is responsible for leading a variety of smart local energy system innovation initiatives. These form the evidence base that demonstrates the value of local solutions and part of a package of measures to achieve our national net zero objectives. Prior to leading Energy Capital, Cheryl was the sector director for energy and environment at Pell Frischmann design engineering consultancy, but spent the majority of her 20-year career at Regen, championing democratic, decentralised and decarbonised energy solutions.

Charlotte Horobin

MAKE UK

Make UK is the largest voice supporting UK manufacturing. Charlotte’s role as Region Director is to engage Make UK’s members and assist them in advancing as a manufacturer by providing bespoke introductions, providing industry insight, attendance at events & networking, promoting their business and ensuring their views are heard. Another key part of her role is to engage with regional stakeholders ensuring manufacturers’ interests are represented to LEPs, the West Midlands Combined Authority, Midlands Engine and the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Combined Authority. Charlotte is also a Trustee of the WMG Academy for Young Engineers, a Careers and Enterprise Advisor in Lincolnshire, a Board Member of the West Midlands Growth Company and is a Senior Industrial Fellow with The Advanced Services Group at Aston Business School.

Steve Morley

President - CBM

CBM and ICOSPA (International Council of Sheet Metal Press Work Associations) President Stephen Morley is an automotive expert with over 40 years’ experience including Operational and Engineering Director roles. He has studied manufacturing processes across Europe, Japan and China. Steve had been a Director of the Confederation of British Metalforming (CBM) for 4 years before being appointed as President in 2018. CBM is the leading trade association for UK Manufacturers of fasteners, forgings, pressings and cold rolled products. Steve additionally works as the President of International Council of Sheet Metal Presswork Association (ICOSPA) as the UK have recently held the presidency of this global association for the last 5 years. He is also a member of the Metal Forum and UK Metals Council, lobbying Government and challenging business policy.

Pierre-Yves Pineau

Mondelez Bournville

Pierre-Yves Pineau is the Facilities Manager for Mondelez Bournville (Cadbury). With a Master’s Degree in Industrial Engineering, he has developed a strong interest in environmental improvements and energy reduction. In his current role he plays a key part in developing and implementing the energy optimisation road map for the site. Pierre-Yves has a broad industrial experience in various roles and industries such as L’Oréal, AkzoNobel in France and the UK.

Tom Westley

Chairman - Westley Group

Tom is a graduate of Imperial College in Metallurgy. He worked on a copper mine in Mufulira, Zambia before joining the family foundry business in 1974. The business has grown to be a European/Global leader in the casting of corrosion resistant and heat resistant copper and nickel based alloys. Tom has been Chairman of Westley Group Ltd since 1989. He was Chairman of Castings Technology International Ltd, based in Sheffield, from 1998 until its sale to the University of Sheffield in 2013. He is Chairman of Westley Plastics Ltd and its subsidiary Runflat International Ltd. Tom is a Governor of Dudley College and a trustee of Dudley Academies Trust. He sits on the West Midlands Combined Authority Board and is Vice Chair of the Economic Growth Board of the WMCA. He is also a director of WMCA Growth Company Ltd and a supporter of several locally based charities.