“Futureproofing your workforce: success stories” was a breakout panel at the National Manufacturing Conference 2026 showcasing how manufacturers of different sizes had successfully upskilled and retrained their people to meet changing industry demands. Panellists shared real‑world examples of addressing mid‑level skills gaps through electrical, mechanical and robotics training, and outlined how they used funded training routes to build more resilient teams. The session gave attendees practical inspiration, concrete strategies and clear takeaways they could apply in their own organisations, with time for audience questions to explore specific challenges.