William Laughton, Business Development Director at Perfect Bore Manufacturing, has played a central role in the revitalization of the UK’s defense manufacturing sector, winning the Diversity award in the 2025 Army, Airforce and Naval Technology Excellence Awards. William Laughton won the award in the Manufacturing Leadership category for his transformative leadership in advancing both sovereign defense manufacturing capabilities and inclusive workforce development within the UK defense sector.

In this exclusive interview, William Laughton reveals how inclusive leadership, a commitment to ethical responsibility, and a focus on empowering teams have driven innovation, resilience, and trust within the defense manufacturing sector. Laughton’s approach offers a blueprint for cultivating empowered teams and sustainable growth in an industry where precision and integrity are paramount.

“PRASA is the largest rail passenger transport system in Africa,” says Nokuthula Marjorie Ngonyama, group chief information officer of PRASA. “We have more than 22000km of railway track in the country and 490 stations. We take about 5.5 billion trips per annum on our network, so our operations are huge.”

To meet this increasing demand, PRASA has spent the past few years overhauling its network, embarking on an ICT strategy that covers connectivity and communication across all its operations and value chains. Since 2011, it has earmarked a total of $15bn to improve transport capacity and service quality, including 7,724 locomotive systems, signal systems in four regions, and wireless communications systems in three regions.

Receiving the Diversity award is a deeply humbling experience. It’s not just a personal honour; it’s a reflection of the incredible people I’ve had the privilege to work alongside. In manufacturing, especially within the defence sector, diversity isn’t just a value, it’s a strategic advantage. This award reinforces our belief that when we bring together different perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences, we unlock innovation and resilience. I see this recognition as a call to continue championing inclusion, not just as a policy, but as a culture embedded in everything we do.

Labelled the first optical-visual detection application in rail, PRASA’s new system enables full-process security detection by combining optical-visual linkage with an upper-layer integrated management platform to detect, report and acknowledge alerts.

Developed based on research into the current state-of-the-railways as well as an in-depth analysis of PRASA railway operations and needs, the solution uses intelligent vibration-sensing optical fibre, video AI, and video surveillance to deliver high stability and reliability in a range of scenarios, including strong winds and heavy rain.

My leadership philosophy is rooted in strength, honour, and service. I believe in leading by example, with integrity and clarity of purpose. Over the years, I’ve learned that true leadership isn’t about control, it’s about empowerment. It’s evolved from being task-focused to being people-focused, recognising that the greatest outcomes come from teams who feel valued, trusted, and inspired. I operate with the mindset that the impossible is only impossible until someone does it, and I strive to be that someone, or to support others in becoming that someone.

A leader in defence manufacturing must embody resilience, precision, and foresight. The stakes are high, and the margin for error is minimal. Technical competence is essential, but so is emotional intelligence. We must be able to navigate complexity, inspire confidence, and make decisions that balance innovation with uncompromising safety and quality. Above all, we must lead with integrity, because in defence, trust is everything.

One of the most pivotal decisions was to restructure our leadership model to be more collaborative and inclusive. We moved away from a traditional hierarchy and empowered cross-functional teams to take ownership of strategic initiatives. This shift not only accelerated innovation but also transformed our culture, people began to see themselves as leaders, regardless of title. It was a risk, but it paid off in ways that continue to shape our growth and agility.

Innovation and quality are not opposing forces, they’re interdependent. At Perfect Bore, we’ve built a culture where every innovation is rigorously tested against our quality benchmarks. We invest heavily in advanced metrology, digital twins, and simulation technologies to ensure that new ideas meet or exceed defence standards. It’s about creating a mindset where innovation is disciplined, and quality is non-negotiable.

Ethical responsibility starts with transparency. We’ve embedded accountability into our daily operations through clear metrics, open communication, and a shared commitment to doing what’s right, even when it’s hard. I encourage every team member to speak up, challenge assumptions, and hold each other to the highest standards. Our culture is built on mutual respect and the understanding that our work impacts lives, we never take that lightly.

We treat diversity and inclusion as strategic imperatives. That means embedding them into recruitment, development, and leadership pathways. We’ve implemented mentorship programs, inclusive hiring practices, and regular culture audits to ensure we’re not just talking about inclusion, we’re living it. Growth should never dilute our values; it should amplify them.

We look beyond CVs and titles, we look for mindset, potential, and passion. Our leadership development programs are designed to be accessible and adaptive, with a focus on experiential learning and cross-functional exposure. We actively seek out individuals from underrepresented groups and provide tailored support to help them thrive. Leadership isn’t about where you come from, it’s about where you’re willing to go.

Trust is earned through consistency, transparency, and delivery. We maintain open lines of communication with stakeholders, provide clear reporting, and always follow through on our commitments. Internally, trust is built by listening, being present, and showing that every voice matters. In defence, trust isn’t just a value, it’s a currency. We protect it fiercely.

One of the toughest challenges was navigating supply chain disruptions during a critical defence contract. We were under immense pressure, but instead of reacting with short-term fixes, we brought our team together, re-engineered our processes, and collaborated closely with partners to find sustainable solutions. The result wasn’t just contract fulfilment, it was a stronger, more resilient supply chain that benefited the entire defence ecosystem.

We lead with purpose. When people understand the impact of their work, protecting lives, advancing national security, they find strength even in adversity. We also invest in wellbeing, continuous learning, and recognition. Resilience isn’t just about enduring, it’s about adapting, growing, and staying united. Our culture of teamwork and shared mission is our greatest source of motivation.

Industry leaders must be proactive partners in shaping policy and capability. We have a responsibility to share insights, advocate for innovation, and ensure that the UK defence sector remains agile and sovereign. This means investing in skills, technology, and infrastructure, and working collaboratively with government and academia to future-proof our industry.

I hope to leave a legacy of courage, integrity, and transformation. A legacy where people from all walks of life see opportunity in manufacturing, where innovation thrives without compromising ethics, and where leadership is defined by service. I’m working towards this by mentoring future leaders, driving inclusive growth, and never settling for “good enough.” The impossible is only impossible until someone does it, and I want to be remembered as someone who helped make the impossible possible.

Perfect Bore is a premier provider of precision engineering services. They pride themselves on being the UK’s solution to long diameter to length or complex bore detail components. Having over three decades of experience in manufacturing precision tubular components, they are well equipped to deliver the future projects in hand.

Their expertise extends to working with high-temperature corrosion-resistant alloys such as Inconel, Monel, Hastelloy, and stainless steels, meeting the stringent requirements of major original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and sub-tier companies.

Perfect Bore is a key supplier to the aerospace and defence sectors, with its bore solutions present in components used by leading manufacturers like Airbus, BAe, Goodrich Actuation Systems, Boeing, Moog, and Rolls Royce in projects such as the B787 Dreamliner, A400M, and A350. The company is committed to quality and on-time delivery, adhering to ‘just-in-time’ schedules and lean manufacturing initiatives to provide cost-effective solutions. 

Perfect Bore maintains a fully accredited integrated management system compliant with AS9100:D/ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2023, and is the NDA’s Supply Chain Charter for Nuclear Decommissioning Sites.