Group Manufacturing Director at Severfield Plc

The Company 

Severfield is the UK’s largest producer of structural steel, with an impressive and consistent track record of growth in profitability and turnover, both organically, and through strategic acquisitions. With six sites in the UK, a recently acquired business in The Netherlands, and a joint venture in India, the group has an annual capacity to produce up to 300,000 tonnes of fabricated steelwork.  

Partnering with customers and contractors in the infrastructure, transport, nuclear, culture, and commercial markets, their products are an integral part of many iconic landmarks and buildings across the UK and Europe. Recent significant projects include the new stadium for Everton FC, the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, Pinewood Studios in Shepperton, the Google Headquarters at King’s Cross and the Envision Battery Plant in Sunderland. 

The Role 

Severfield’s Group Manufacturing Director planned to retire in the summer of 2024, and the organisation asked us to lead the search to identify his successor. The appointment of a new Group Manufacturing Director was of critical importance to Severfield, with responsibility for planning, directing, and leading the manufacturing operations activities, ensuring safe, sustainable, competitive, efficient, and cost-effective operations to meet the current and future strategic business needs of the company. 

The Search 

With a requirement to be based close to the Group’s head office in York, our search focused on manufacturing leaders from large and complex organisations that worked closely with the construction sector. The ability to lead a significant transformation process, whilst being a mentor and coach for their plant leaders, was a key trait for the shortlist candidates.  

The appointment was successful – with an individual that had led multi-site and multi-country manufacturing regions – and therefore offered the additional experience of working with many cultures, and being effective in adapting their style. We have since successfully appointed a Site Director to this individual’s team, and an Operations Director to their Nuclear & Infrastructure Division.  

The Client 

‘Jonathan and the team at Berwick Partners supported us on a challenging search for a Group Manufacturing Director. From their initial pitch and throughout the process they were attentive, thorough and transparent. Their access into sectors and candidates that ordinarily wouldn’t have been attracted to our position was brilliant and we had a really strong shortlist. All the candidates that we had at final stage we could have offered positions to, and all would have added value to our business and fitted our culture. To be able to have choice at the end of a process like this and have alternative options for alternative potential roles is a great position to be in. I would definitely recommend Jonathan and the team and look forward to working with them again.’ 

Group HR Director

Severfield PLC