Structural Engineering Design & Fabrication

REIDsteel is proud to announce that its managing director Simon Boyd has been made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the King’s New Year Honours List. Simon received the prestigious award in recognition of his many decades of service to British steel manufacturing and Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs). He said: “For decades I have been doing my best to try and protect our industry and to the bring to the surface the real issues facing UK businesses. “I am delighted to be awarded this honour in recognition of this work and at the same time I feel quite humbled by the experience. “I would not be able to do the work I do without the help and support of my colleagues and the guidance of wise friends. It hasn’t quite sunk in yet! “A big thank you to those who proposed and supported that I be recognised for my work through such a prestigious honour.” Simon has become renowned for his business leadership and as a vocal and influential champion of UK based businesses, the steel industry, manufacturing and particularly SMEs. He promotes the importance of job creation and the important role businesses play in prosperity for all; he is a passionate believer in social mobility. He is proud to be a trustee of the Jobs Foundation charity, which champions business as ‘a force for good’ and was appointed chair of the Jobs Foundation’s South West in September 2025. The Foundation’s ethos reflects Simon’s own commitment to social mobility to encourage and support employees and young people to reach their full potential. Simon has been a non-executive board member of Dorset Chamber since 2019 and was elected vice-president for 2026 at its annual meeting in December 2025. REIDsteel is also a platinum business partner of the chamber. Christchurch-based REIDsteel designs, makes, supplies and builds many different kinds of steel structures, has exported to more than 140 countries since being founded in 1919 during which time it has won the Queen's Award for Enterprise for International Trade three times. Simon recently campaigned to save British Steel’s sole surviving blast furnaces in Scunthorpe and for the company to be brought under public ownership. He continues to fight for British Steel.  Under Simon’s leadership, REIDsteel was the first steelwork contractor to sign the UK Steel Charter in support of the UK steel making industry.

REIDsteel managing director Simon Boyd, along with two other business leaders from the UK steel industry, have called for a meeting with Secretary of State for Business and Trade Peter Kyle, the leader of the opposition Kemi Badenoch, Reform leader Nigel Farage and Lib Dem leader Ed Davey early in the new year. They wish to discuss: The government’s continued failure to take British Steel into full public owners hip so a coherent plan can be put in place for the investment the company needs The continued threat posed by the damaging race to net zero The increasing thr eat from cheap Chinese steel entering the UK market along with fabricated steel which would have a devastating impact on the entire steel sector, manufacturing and the UK economy The call comes in a letter sent to the politicians by Jonathan Clemens, chief executive of the British Constructional Steelwork Association (BCSA).

REIDsteel managing director Simon Boyd is the new vice-president at Dorset Chamber . He was elected to the position at the annual meeting of the chamber of commerce, which is the county’s leading business support organisation. Simon steps up to the role after first becoming a non-executive on the board of the chamber in 2019. He will serve with newly elected president Gareth Sherwood, chief executive of YMCA Bournemouth , and fellow board members. The chamber’s first ever patron was also announced at the annual meeting – HM Lord Lieutenant for Dorset Michael Dooley . Simon said: “I will promote the needs of our members and the many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that make up the majority of businesses within Dorset and beyond. “I will listen to the views of members and work with the chamber’s chief executive and board to represent their interests and deliver the business support that Dorset needs and deserves. I will champion our business community as the true engine of growth, innovation, social mobility and prosperity.” Nearly 100 business people attended the annual meeting at the Marriott Hotel in Bournemouth before the chamber’s annual Christmas lunch for 160 guests, which included a toy collection and raffle in aid of the Cash for Kids charity. REIDsteel donated a Christmas hamper for the raffle, which raised £2,400. The charity is dedicated to improving the lives of disadvantaged children and young people across the South Coast.  The chamber of commerce, with more than 600 members representing 37,000 employees, is the county’s voice of business. Founded in 1949. it is the only chamber in Dorset accredited to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).

REIDsteel managing director Simon Boyd has demanded a u-turn on a decision to use thousands of tonnes of Chinese steel for an £8bn green energy project in the UK. Net Zero Teesside (NZT) is a joint venture between BP and Norwegian firm Equinor to build the world’s first gas-fired power station with carbon capture and storage. It will be one of a handful of ‘carbon-capture clusters’ that will benefit from the £22 billion of UK state aid announced at the end of last year, according to The Times. NZT, which it is estimated will support 4,500 jobs between 2025 and 2028, is being built on the site of the former SSI steelworks in Teesside. BP and Equinor have agreed a fixed-price contract with Balfour Beatty to construct the power station, and French firm Technip will oversee the building of the offshore and carbon-capture elements of the venture. Project bosses have pledged that at least 50 per cent of the engineering, procurement and construction contracts will be sourced from the UK. However, according to The Times, Technip is on the verge of agreeing a major package of 10,000 tonnes of steel with Modern, a Chinese firm. Simon said: “This decision is outrageous. “BP and Equinor have stipulated that there should be 20% low carbon steel. “British Steel does not as yet make low carbon steel. There has been no investment in this type of technology or new virgin steel blast furnaces at British Steel as yet. “The whole point of the government takeover to bring the company into public ownership, which has yet to fully complete, was to protect our steel industry. “British Steel belongs to the British people. It is horrifying to see British Petroleum go down a procurement route that excludes British Steel. “Virgin steel from British Steel is the finest in the world and should be used for this project - equally this steel should be fabricated in the UK rather than in China. “British steel is at the core of the steel making in the UK, which many manufacturing businesses rely upon. “To export this work to China beggars belief. In addition we are not only exporting the steel making, we are also exporting the steel fabrication, a sector which employs thousands of people here in the UK. “The irony in awarding this work for a green project to China is, of course, that China is one of the biggest polluters on the planet. “Bearing in mind that taxpayers’ money is going towards this project, the government should be rightly embarrassed and take action to see that the decision is reversed without delay. “It needs to look after British steelmaking and the many thousands of jobs that rely on steel manufacturing in the UK.”  REIDsteel is based in Christchurch, Dorset. It designs, makes and builds steel framed structures such as bridges, hangars, stadia and airport terminals. The company was the first steelwork contractor to sign the UK Steel Charter and has made British Steel its preferred supplier. It has exported to more than 140 countries to date.

Our Sales Director Tim Outteridge and Business Development Manager Chris Evans spent a brilliant day at the British Constructional Steelwork Association’s (BCSA) Future of Steel Construction conference in London. It was a chance to renew acquaintances, build new connections, gain insights and share ideas about the future direction of the industry. They enjoyed catching up with many within the sector including Chris Hendy from AtkinsRealis, Simon Fryer, technical director at Buro Happold, Dean Morcom, managing director of Briton Fabrication Ltd and Tim’s colleagues from the National Steelwork Group. Updates to design codes, fire safety, sustainability in steel design and emerging practices were among the topics under discussion. The key takeaway was that the ever-evolving world of constructional steel is filled with exciting possibilities as a modern, vibrant and resilient sector that is vital for UK plc – but must receive the government support it deserves and requires. There was a great atmosphere at the event with plenty of positivity in the room. Many thanks to the BCSA for bringing the sector together where we can all share in a common vision for a healthy, strong and thriving industry. We’re looking forward to next year! Tim is pictured with Kevin Campbell , managing director of Billington Steel Structures and Stephen Dorer, BCSA regional chair for Midlands and the South and steelwork operations director at Deconstruct (UK) Ltd. In the other shots he is with BCSA president Chris Durand, technical director at Severfield, and Geoffrey Taylor, director at Caunton Engineering Chris is shown with John Callanan, design manager at Westok Ltd.

REIDsteel was among the businesses at a round table discussion held by the Jobs Foundation’s South West Regional Council. More than 20 attendees from business, charity and education attended the event at Exeter College of Further Education. They included our managing director Simon Boyd, who is chairman of the regional council and a trustee of the Jobs Foundation. The event – for which the Jobs Foundation partnered with the college - was the council’s first round table following its launch in Christchurch in September. It began with a panel discussion, chaired by Mike Blakeley, executive director of partnerships & apprenticeships at Exeter College and chair of the Constructing Excellence South West Skills Panel. He was joined on the panel by Simon, Jobs Foundation co-founder and chief executive Georgiana Bristol and Helen Wylde-Archibald. Helen is the chief executive of Devon Chamber of Commerce and co-founder of South West AI Solutions Ltd. The discussion addressed a range of issues such as AI in the workplace, the constraints on regional job creation, the benefit of investing in employees and the misconceptions around hiring from non-traditional backgrounds. Jobs Foundation business council manager Kellen Hadfield and Simon then led a roundtable discussion focussed on the South West skills pipeline, employment from non-traditional backgrounds and the obstacles to business growth. It was another successful event with valuable discussions about job creation, social mobility and business growth. The council is set to announce its south west steering group shortly. REIDsteel was one of the founding members of the Jobs Foundation. Simon is pictured with Georgiana Bristol at the event in Exeter. Email Kellen at kellen@thejobsfoundation.com to find out more about the regional business council.

Our managing director Simon Boyd will be on the panel at a Jobs Foundation regional round table event in Exeter. Simon is chair of the charity’s South West Business Council, which is holding the session at Exeter College on Tuesday November 18. The event, titled 'Backing Business to Boost Employment: Policy Priorities from the South West', is the second to be held by the regional council following its launch in Christchurch in September. It will be an opportunity to explore the barriers and opportunities facing businesses when it comes to creating jobs, supporting skills and driving growth across the region. Comments at the roundtable will also form the foundation of the Jobs Foundation’s future research and policy work, as it looks to establish its South West Business Council as a voice for the region's business community. Also on the panel in Exeter will be Jobs Foundation chief executive Georgiana Bristol, Mike Blakeley, who is executive director of partnerships and apprenticeships at Exeter College, and Helen Wylde-Archibald, who is chief executive of the Devon Chamber of Commerce .  The Jobs Foundation champions business as a force for good which creates employment, lifts people out of poverty and boosts social mobility. REIDsteel was a founding member of its business council. The round table is being held from 12.30pm to 3pm at Exeter College’s IoT Building, in Hele Road, Exeter. Click here for more details and to attend . The South West Business Council launch was held at the Captain’s Club in Christchurch with Simon Boyd, Georgiana Bristol, Jobs Foundation president Lord Elliott of Mickle Fell, Aspire Jobs managing director Helen Stacey and Tim Lloyd, who is president of Christchurch Chamber of Trade and Commerce and managing director of the Captain’s Club Hotel and Spa.

REIDsteel has hailed the importance of overseas partnerships during International Trade Week 2025 . We’ve exported to more than 140 countries to date and built steel structures on every continent on earth during 106 years of trading. Our success has been built on close working relationships with business partners, main contractors and customers as well as our excellence in structural steel design, engineering, fabrication and supply/construction. All of our structures are shipped from our manufacturing facility in Christchurch, Dorset, UK. Almost any structure can be designed to fit within standard 40 foot shipping containers and then shipped to the client's destination. We have also invested heavily in our container loading equipment to ensure that each item reaches its destination safely, securely, and in line with the project programme. We’re proud to support communities and economic developments across the globe. Our projects have included:  · The Civic Centre complex in Belize · Bridges for remote rural communities in Africa and Asia · Disaster resistant buildings for customers in the Caribbean · Grain stores to help combat famine in Africa We have made British Steel our main supplier because of its quality - and because most customers ask for it. Now in its fifth year, International Trade Week (November 3 to 7) is led by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) in partnership with industry and sponsored by Santander UK. Congratulations to all those businesses who have succeeded in international trade and very best wishes to all of those breaking into new markets overseas.