As part of our Novel podcast series, we’re celebrating innovation and leadership across the Liverpool City Region. In our latest episode, we’re highlighting the remarkable journey of Jen Fenner, Managing Director of DefProc Engineering.
DefProc is an award-winning design and manufacturing studio based in Liverpool, providing prototyping, product development and innovation strategy for clients across the UK. What began in a co-working space has evolved into a pivotal force, helping to bridge the gap between great ideas and commercial success. This journey that speaks volumes about the power of creative leadership, resilience and regional collaboration.
A squiggly career with a clear purpose
Like many entrepreneurs, Jen Fenner’s journey hasn’t followed a straight line. Starting as a textile designer, she moved through roles in electricity distribution, freelance graphic design, and even as an exhibiting artist. But it was in the early 2010s, while working with co-founder Patrick Fenner, that she found her calling – building things, solving complex problems and supporting others to do the same.
Their company, DefProc, was founded in response to a challenge many startups face, turning a concept into a tangible, testable product. Manufacturers wouldn’t touch small runs or one-off builds. The solution was to just make it themselves.
Through DoES Liverpool – a then-nascent makerspace – the pair tapped into a community of fellow innovators and began building prototypes for clients ranging from artists and startups to major public sector bodies. Their practical, agile approach to design and manufacturing resonated with organisations that needed bespoke solutions, not off-the-shelf systems.
Organic Growth Rooted in Relationships
DefProc’s business model grew organically. As Jen describes, it wasn’t built on big VC funding or rigid five-year strategies. Instead, it was a process of exploring opportunities, doing exceptional work and letting word-of-mouth and reputation carry them forward.
That approach paid off when they caught the attention of the Environment Agency in 2015. What started with DIY electronics workshops turned into a decade-long partnership developing remote river-level sensors, national staff training programmes and customised environmental monitoring tools.
From there, DefProc was trusted with increasingly ambitious projects, such as designing fish-counting systems, prototyping social care technologies and collaborating on next-generation 5G devices. But their standout achievement was developing a smart gas pressure sensor for Northern Gas Networks that automatically alerts and isolates gas leaks – a now critical innovation for the hydrogen transition and net-zero ambitions.
Leadership That Starts with the “Why”
DefProc’s impact is rooted in Jen’s unique leadership style, which is grounded in critical thinking, design empathy and a focus on systems. She begins every project by asking: “Why?” Why is this solution needed? How does it fit into the larger infrastructure? What operational changes will be required to make it scalable?
This design-led mindset and the ability to zoom out while still caring deeply about the technical detail is something Jen sees as a key advantage of her creative background. It’s also what’s missing, she argues, from many tech-first startup cultures that prioritise speed over sustainability.
In her words, “Design isn’t just sitting and drawing. It’s about imagining something different — and building the systems that allow that vision to thrive.”
Supporting Innovation Across the Liverpool City Region
Jen is also a key contributor to Liverpool’s regional growth agenda. As a member of the Advanced Manufacturing Advisory Board for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, she advises Mayor Steve Rotheram’s team on how to support SMEs and scale-ups working on cutting-edge technologies.
Her time on the advisory board has highlighted a pressing gap in the LCR’s journey to innovation – the space between research and commercialisation. While there’s plenty of support for startups at the idea stage, many stumble when trying to build their first manufacturable prototype or navigate complex procurement landscapes. Bridging that gap and helping regional businesses scale, is central to both DefProc’s mission and Jen’s policy work.
She also champions better education for entrepreneurs, not just on business basics but on product development lifecycles, customer testing and managing innovation risk. “If we want to see more homegrown companies succeed,” she says, “we need to demystify the journey from idea to product, and support people through every step of it.”
A different kind of startup culture
DefProc’s story offers a powerful counter-narrative to the “move fast, break things” ethos that dominates many startup scenes. Jen’s view is that Britain doesn’t need to mimic Silicon Valley. We can create our own version of innovation, which values reliability, community and long-term value.
The business’ approach is already paying dividends. From local arts institutions to national infrastructure providers, DefProc has built a trusted reputation, not just for their engineering skill, but for their integrity, foresight and ability to deliver complex solutions with limited resources.
Their journey also shows that creative professionals, who are often overlooked in discussions of STEM innovation, have a vital role to play in rethinking how we solve problems and design the future.
As Liverpool continues to shape its future economy, companies like DefProc, and leaders like Jen Fenner, are showing what’s possible when design, purpose and pragmatism come together.
To listen to our podcast with Jen, visit:
Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eWY6m_-r
YouTube: https://lnkd.in/e3g-W6-P