We are proud to announce that our Managing Director – James Harding-Terry has been recognised for his achievements and awarded a place in The Manufacturer ‘Top 100’ this year. The Manufacturer Top 100 2018 publication for the 100 most inspirational individuals working in UK industry were announced in November at a drinks reception at Exhibition Centre, Liverpool. The award is run in partnership with Cranfield University, one of the country’s top centres of business education. The award publicly recognises the most dynamic leaders and innovators in manufacturing. Its goal is to help dispel popularly-held myths that vibrant manufacturing in the UK is a thing of the past.
Awardees are drawn from every walk of UK industry, from top floor to shop floor. From Sanjeev Gupta, who is singlehandedly transforming the British steel industry, to Amy Druce, Production Team Leader at BMW MINI Plant Oxford. They are selected from thousands of nominations for the examples they set to young people aspiring to a career in industry; 100 unique and uplifting stories of struggle, grit, determination and success against all the odds, personal tales of individuals helping to change popular perceptions of careers in manufacturing and draw young people into sector.
Nick Peters, Editorial Director of The Manufacturer and of The Manufacturer Top 100 report commented, “The individual stories in the report published today are a compelling reminder of how strong and vibrant UK manufacturing really is. We need to keep saying that, because as a nation we seem to harbour the notion that no one in the UK makes things anymore, and young people are discouraged from considering careers in manufacturing. The truth is we do make things – we are the world’s 9th largest manufacturing nation – and careers are very well paid. But there are too few skilled young people coming through the system. It is on behalf of that new generation that we do this. We want to break down the decades-old prejudice against manufacturing. We want parents to get excited about recommending a career in manufacturing to their offspring, not see it (so erroneously) as an occupation of last resort. We must not let the prejudices of yesterday poison the opportunities of tomorrow.”
“James’ passion for manufacturing started at the tender age of 7, spending his school summer holidays working on the shop floor of his family’s engineering business. His thirst for learning took him to his first degree in Information Technology, and a career as a Systems Analyst, working for Barclays Bank, the European Commission and then AT&T. In the late 90s James joined PCT Automotive as General Manager and drove the business forward into the 21st Century, becoming MD of the Company 10 years later. He successfully completed an MBO of the 90-year-old business in late 2017, restructuring it as Steetley Corner Group. It is now a multi-million turnover business operating over three sites, employing nearly 100 people, yet still retailing the family values that have always run through the core of the Sheffield-based company.”
