James Sopwith - Business in the Community
James Sopwith looks at the camera

James Sopwith

Group Strategic Account Director,
adi Group

Education Taskforce

James Sopwith has worked in the manufacturing sector for over 25 years. A graduate mechanical engineer, he began his career as an engineering designer within the automotive industry. He progressed through production Management, into senior management and then Managing Director positions.

He joined the multi-disciplined engineering services Company adi Group in 2008. His current role is Group Strategic Account Director, as well as being Managing Director of adi Projects.

James also heads up the Group’s pre-apprenticeship program for 14 to 16 year olds. The program, which takes up 10% of the children’s GCSE curriculum time, aims to inspire the next generation of engineers before they leave school.

His key reason for joining Business in the Community’s Education Taskforce is to ensure the positive experiences of both adi, and other participating companies, can increase the benefits of business working with schools. He wants to see more businesses encouraged to take up the challenge.

The adi Group is a fast growing, privately owned engineering services business, with a 2021 turnover of around £125 million and a workforce of over 700 employees.