Sylatech, a precision engineering firm based in Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, has undergone a significant transformation since 2021, resulting in substantial improvements in its financial performance and operational efficiency. The company, which manufactures components for aircraft, satellites, and medical equipment, had struggled with a lack of clear strategy and inefficiencies that led to losses prior to the recent overhaul.
Founded in 1962, Sylatech faced challenges of producing a wide variety of parts in an irregular and inefficient manner. When Charlie Breese took over as chief executive in 2015, he encountered a business without a unified strategic direction. Breese recalled that if senior leaders were asked about the company’s strategy at the time, they would have provided multiple, sometimes conflicting answers.
In 2021, Breese and his leadership team engaged the consultancy Sharing in Growth to support a structured programme aimed at improving operational performance and strategically repositioning the company. A key initial focus was on fostering trust and partnership between Sylatech’s leadership, employees, and the consultancy.
To build employee engagement, Sharing in Growth conducted workshops to identify company strengths and areas needing improvement. Communication methods within Sylatech shifted dramatically, moving from infrequent and limited updates to more frequent and open information sharing. Breese described the change as “an information overload,” with daily floor visits, monthly newsletters, regular social events, and informal initiatives such as visits from a fish and chip van to boost morale.
Central to the improvement efforts was the implementation of a structured daily management system. This system enhanced transparency by providing clear visibility of performance metrics and enabled teams across the business to monitor progress, identify issues promptly, and allocate resources effectively. Prior to these changes, data regarding performance was often sparse or inaccurate, leading to a reactive "firefighting" approach.
The new management practices had a particularly pronounced impact in the foundry and machine shop areas, where previous inefficiencies had caused delays that disrupted assembly work. With improved processes and governance, teams could plan and execute tasks more reliably.
Between 2021 and 2025, Sylatech reported a 51 percent increase in revenue alongside a more than tenfold rise in operating profitability. Delivery schedule compliance improved dramatically, rising from as low as 30 percent at times to 97 percent. Breese described the turnaround as the transformation the company had sought, noting that Sylatech has stabilized and is now poised for further expansion, with plans to double its size within two years.
Breese added that the company’s renewed focus is firmly on the future, highlighting increased confidence and job satisfaction among employees and leadership alike.