About the Business
CODEL International Ltd, based in Bakewell, Derbyshire, is a leading designer and manufacturer of cutting-edge emission monitoring instrumentation. Their advanced systems monitor emissions to the atmosphere, ensure air quality in road and rail tunnels, and support plant and rail safety worldwide.
Established in 1982, CODEL began by designing gas monitors for process control applications. As environmental awareness and global emissions legislation evolved, the company expanded its range, developing solutions to meet the increasing demand for precise, reliable, and sustainable monitoring technologies.
Today, CODEL manufactures a broad range of products, from dust monitors to fully automated continuous emissions monitoring systems (CEMS). The company is also recognised as a market leader in road and rail tunnel air quality and flow monitoring, with more than 10,000 tunnel instruments and 12,000 CEMS systems installed globally.
With a workforce of 44 employees, the company continues to design and manufacture all products at its Bakewell site. Since 2016, CODEL has been part of the Forbes Marshall Group, a global engineering business specialising in energy efficiency and process automation. This partnership has strengthened CODEL’s international reach while maintaining its commitment to innovation, quality, and local expertise.
Challenges Faced
Before joining the East Midlands Manufacturing Network, Richard Hallam, Managing Director at CODEL, had not been involved in any regional business groups. While the majority of CODEL’s products are exported, Richard recognised the importance of strengthening UK connections by engaging with other local manufacturers. This allowed CODEL to build relationships and stay informed about developments across the UK manufacturing and infrastructure sectors.
The business was keen to better understand regional opportunities and challenges, and to remain part of the wider conversation around manufacturing innovation, skills and sustainability in the East Midlands.
In 2022, Richard joined the Derbyshire group of the East Midlands Manufacturing Network (EMMN) to build that local connection and strengthen CODEL’s involvement in the regional manufacturing community.
The solution and Impact
Since joining EMMN, Richard has found the regular meetings to be a valuable opportunity to meet and engage with other business leaders and manufacturers across the region. While the members represent a wide range of sectors, the issues they face, such as managing costs, accessing skills, and navigating global supply chain pressures are often shared.
The meetings provide a trusted space for reflection and peer learning, where members can share experiences, compare approaches, and identify potential solutions together. As Richard explains, “It’s reassuring to know that the challenges you’re facing are often the same challenges others are tackling – and that we can learn from each other.”
Through the network’s collaboration with Make UK, Richard has also been able to benchmark CODEL’s performance against other manufacturers nationally and gain valuable insight into sector trends, economic shifts, and market opportunities.
Being part of EMMN has also made it easier to find and access local business support, something that busy business leaders rarely have time to research independently. The introductions and information shared through the network have proven to be a fast, reliable way to stay connected with funding, training, and innovation opportunities across the East Midlands.
Showcasing Success
and Building Connections through East Midlands Chamber
Membership of the East Midlands Manufacturing Network has also provided a direct link into the wider range of support available through the East Midlands Chamber.
CODEL has already made use of the Accelerator-funded training and workshops, helping to upskill team members across several departments. The company also uses the Chamber’s Director Development Programme as the foundation for leadership training for both Directors and Managers.
As Richard explains, “The Director Development course provides a great opportunity to reflect on all areas of the business. It helps us identify where additional training or mentoring could support our ongoing skills development. The Chamber has also delivered bespoke follow-on training tailored specifically to our needs.”
Looking ahead, CODEL plans to continue working closely with the Chamber, including participation in the Export Accelerator Programme, to further strengthen its international growth strategy.
For CODEL International, joining EMMN has opened doors to new connections, insights, and opportunities for development. By combining its global experience with local collaboration, the business continues to lead with innovation, expertise, and a strong commitment to the future of manufacturing in the East Midlands.
“As the group is made up of people from different manufacturing sectors it has given me a great insight into how they overcome similar business challenges and have also allowed me the opportunity to give them help and input.”
Richard Hallam
Managing Director