The Digital Forge Podcast

Inside a quiet building in Sheffield, every piece of precious metal, gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, still carries a mark that has defined trust for more than 250 years. The Sheffield hallmark.

In this episode of The Digital Forge, David Richards MBE meets Ashley Carson, the city’s longest-serving Assay Master. From apprentice to leader, Ashley has spent nearly fifty years testing and marking the precious metals that carry Sheffield’s reputation around the world.

It’s a story of precision and pride, of heritage and modernisation, and of a man who has literally shaped the authenticity of British craftsmanship.

Inside a quiet building in Sheffield, every piece of precious metal, gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, still carries a mark that has defined trust for more than 250 years. The Sheffield hallmark.

In this episode of The Digital Forge, David Richards MBE meets Ashley Carson, the city’s longest-serving Assay Master. From apprentice to leader, Ashley has spent nearly fifty years testing and marking the precious metals that carry Sheffield’s reputation around the world.

It’s a story of precision and pride, of heritage and modernisation, and of a man who has literally shaped the authenticity of British craftsmanship.

For decades, Britain has talked about innovation while letting its factories fall silent.

Now, from a cluster of hangars and labs on the edge of Sheffield, a new industrial revolution is taking shape.

In this episode of The Digital Forge, David Richards MBE talks with Ben Morgan, Chief Executive of the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) — the organisation leading Britain’s return to making.

Ben argues that the UK’s future depends on reconnecting invention and production, backing engineering talent, and rebuilding confidence in the power of the North. He explains how South Yorkshire has become a global testbed for advanced manufacturing, clean energy and defence technology, and why the world is watching.

This is not nostalgia for the past. It’s a manifesto for what comes next.

Listen to hear:

• How Britain can close the gap between research and real production.

• Why skills, pride and purpose matter as much as policy.

• How the AMRC is proving that manufacturing isn’t dying, it’s evolving.

A sharp, uncompromising conversation about leadership, technology and the rebirth of British industry.

In this episode of The Digital Forge, David Richards MBE sits down with Louisa Harrison-Walker OBE, Chief Executive of the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Louisa speaks with rare honesty about reaching breaking point after the death of a close friend, the mental health struggles that followed, and how time away helped her reset her life, her leadership, and her priorities.
From that deeply personal story comes a powerful conversation about resilience, vulnerability in leadership, and her vision for Sheffield as it redefines its identity for a new industrial age.
This episode explores:
• Burnout, grief, and the courage to be open about mental health.
• Why self-care isn’t selfish and how it can transform organisations.
• The Chamber’s role in helping Sheffield’s entrepreneurs and businesses succeed.
• Why Sheffield can lead in advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and inclusive growth.
A candid, emotional, and inspiring conversation about leadership, resilience, and building a city where everyone can thrive.

Host David Richards sits down with Adam Pollock to explore his journey from barrister and private investigator to broker and investment banker. Adam breaks down what investment banking is really about, why the UK doesn’t lack money but needs to allocate it better, and how pensions and the EIS scheme fit into the picture. He also shines a spotlight on the talent and innovative businesses thriving in Sheffield — and shares his thoughts on how smarter investment could fuel growth across the UK economy.