This month, we shine a spotlight on TJ Digital Systems, a young manufacturing solutions company with plans to grow, founded by systems engineer Tim Shelley. After a 15-year career in engineering, including time at the AMRC and senior roles in the battery manufacturing space, Tim launched the business in May 2024 to help companies improve their manufacturing performance by integrating people, data and technologies. In our interview with Tim, we talked about his journey as a founder and the steep learning curves this has involved, and he explained the mission of his business: Passionate about manufacturing and delivering meaningful performance and productivity gains.

From engineer to entrepreneur

Tim made the leap from employee to business owner after being made redundant in early 2024. Instead of searching for a new job, he saw an opportunity. “I think there’s a bit of a gap in my market that I could fill, combining the experience I have and the skills that manufacturing companies need,” he explains.

Whilst the engineering side of things is familiar and ‘day to day’ for Tim, as a first-time founder, he’s had to pick up new skills on the fly. “All of this other business stuff… no one’s taught me!” he says. “Marketing, content creation, business development, setting a vision and mission – it’s all been part of the discovery, and a learning curve.”

Like many solo founders, Tim is juggling multiple contracts – currently four or five, including two days a week on-site in Oxford. He has a defined plan to grow his enterprise. “I don’t want the business to be about securing a contract and then simply fulfilling that and on to the next. I’d like to scale to a small team of dedicated professionals, capable of helping companies address manufacturing pain points, delivering practical performance and productivity gains.”

An informed approach to solving real problems

Tim’s background is what sets him apart. As a chartered systems engineer, his expertise spans mechanical, electrical and software systems and, crucially, how they all interact with people, processes and technologies. He brings this holistic approach to all clients, plus a passion for manufacturing.

Having worked at the AMRC for seven years, Tim has seen the gap between innovative research and real-world implementation. “A lot of people think the innovation is the hard part. In reality, it’s realising that against all of your costs, your quality, your time – all of the variables that go into making and releasing a product. That’s where a lot of those challenges happen,” he emphasises.

Tim spent the past five years in lithium-ion battery manufacturing, even specifying equipment for a potential £250 million investment as Head of Engineering at a previous company. This is where he gained some of his most valuable experience. He explains, “I was focussed on all the different aspects of product development, process development, equipment outreach, speaking to vendors wanting to sell you software and machines. And how does all of this link together to actually get your product into manufacturing? How do you turn a multi-million pound investment from an idea into reality?”

Now, as a business founder, Tim’s approach is differentiated by his on-the-ground approach. He embeds himself within client teams, working closely with everyone from workshop technicians to senior management. “I don’t mind just walking onto a shop floor speaking to technicians because I’ve done that. But equally, I can flip and translate that effectively for senior management who just want key information on a PowerPoint in five minutes.”

This means he can deliver practical insights that often get missed, helping businesses to align technical and strategic decision-making.

Whilst Tim understands the value he offers clients, the biggest hurdle has been defining and communicating his value proposition. “That’s what I really struggled with. It’s so difficult to bound that and then put it out into marketing, so it’s probably an area where I need a bit of support in future,” he admits.

So far, most work has come through referrals and personal networks, people who “know me and know my capabilities”, says Tim. But he knows the next step is to articulate his offering clearly and reach a wider audience of decision-makers experiencing the pain points he’s best placed to solve.

Targeting high-value manufacturers ready to scale

Tim is focused on supporting manufacturing businesses to increase productivity and achieve performance gains which make an impact. Ideal clients are typically SMEs and larger organisations with turnover between £1 million and £50 million and a genuine ambition to scale. His previous experience with both SMEs and global operations like Nissan enables him to guide clients through growth with confidence.

He often begins with a discovery phase lasting several weeks, identifying risks, opportunities and practical next steps. To offer an integrated solution whilst Tim is still working alone, he’s building a trusted network of partners – from software providers and organisational change specialists to systems integration firms. “These are people I’ve worked with and trust, so I can confidently introduce them to clients.”

Reflecting on his first year, Tim shares an analogy that will likely feel familiar to many founders and leaders: “Year one and still standing! It’s a bit like you’re climbing a vertical cliff face . . . you’ve started, you’ve got no perspective of how high the next ledge is, but you can’t look down, and you can’t stop. So you just have to keep going and doing the right thing every day.”

A major case study is currently in progress with an international client who has invested £8-10 million in new machinery but is struggling to extract value from it – an ideal challenge for TJ Digital Systems.

“We have delivered Phase 1 of a 9 month project, which focused on the manufacturing landscape and creating a clear picture of the “as-is” and “to-be” landscapes.” explains Tim, “The business has to ramp-up manufacturing production, from pilot to high volume by April 2026, ready for international product launch. This is complex, requiring a holistic approach and deep technical understanding of machinery, connectivity, data, people, process and technologies capabilities.”

Looking ahead, Tim’s focus is on building recurring revenue to enable his first hires, especially in marketing, sales, and project delivery. He’s also continuing to draw on Sheffield’s vibrant startup, tech, and manufacturing support networks, including Sheffield Digital, Digital Forge, and Business Connect.

Get in touch with TJ Digital

If your manufacturing business is looking to scale, solve complex operational pain points, or integrate people, processes and data in a meaningful and efficient way, TJ Digital Systems might be the partner you need.

You can connect with Tim via LinkedIn or visit tjdigitalsystems.co.uk to learn more.