Structural Engineering Design & Fabrication

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.

We’re looking forward to attending ‘The Future of Steel Construction’ conference in London on November 13. The British Constructional Steelwork Association (BCSA) is holding the event to bring together industry experts, leaders and professionals from across the steel construction sector to explore the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of steel. As a firm supporter of the BCSA and with 106 years in the structural steel business, we’re keen to play our part to help build an even stronger industry. The conference is open to construction steelwork contractors, those in the supply chain, engineers, architects and students. Its programme includes a keynote speech, case study sessions, breakout rooms and lectures, addressing key topics such as: · updates to Second Generation Eurocodes · fire safety · sustainability in steel design · emerging practices such as refurbishment, reuse and hybrid design There will also be an exhibition and a networking drinks reception. We’re looking forward to catching up with fellow leading professionals and companies, hearing about new developments and contributing to the discussion about the ever-evolving world of constructional steel. The day-long conference is being held at The Mermaid Conference Centre at Blackfriars. Please email us at sales@reidsteel.co.uk if you wish to arrange a meeting at the event.  If you wish to attend, tickets can be booked at https://bcsa.org.uk/resources/future-of-steel-construction/conference-programme/ where more information is also available about the programme and speakers.

Robust action has been demanded in response to punitive new EU tariffs attacking the UK steel industry. Simon Boyd, managing director of structural steel firm REIDsteel, has called on the UK Government to levy hard-hitting reciprocal measures to protect producers, manufacturers and the wider economy. His comments come after the EU set out plans to cut the amount of tariff-free steel that can be imported into the bloc by half and apply a 50% tariff to all steel imports beyond this. Simon, who campaigned to save British Steel blast furnaces at Scunthorpe earlier this year, warned the tariffs would have a devastating impact. “The total EU market for structural steel is 8 million tonnes per annum, of which the UK is currently granted a tariff-free quota of 108,000 tonnes, equivalent to less than 2% of the market. “Conversely, the UK market is 800,000 tonnes per annum while EU producers have a tariff-free quota of 680,000 tonnes, equivalent to 85% of the UK market. Hardly fair trade. “The EU has announced measures to prevent dumping of Chinese steel into its markets. As part of these measures, the EU proposes to reduce the UK’s tariff-free quota by 50% to less than 1% of their market. “In reality, EU producers have pretty much completely unlimited access to the UK market tariff free while our access to the EU market will be virtually shut down.” Simon added: “All UK producers will be impacted by this change in policy. Not only will exports be impacted but the UK will see a flood of material if we don’t tighten our own trading measures. “The government needs to react boldly and find a way to exclude the UK from this EU action and threaten retaliation with equal and proportionate measures.” The UK steel sector directly employs 36,800 people and supports another 46,000 jobs in the supply chain, according to figures from UK Steel in June of this year. It makes a £1.7bn direct contribution to the UK economy, an additional £2.2bn to the supply chain and a direct contribution of £3.1bn to the UK’s balance of trade. Simon added: “This is a wholly unacceptable attack on the UK steel industry. “The EU may need to prop up its own ailing steel sector and fight off Chinese steel dumping but this cannot be at the expense of the UK. There is no time to lose.”  REIDsteel is based in Christchurch, Dorset, UK, has exported to more than 140 countries in 106 years of trading.

Businesses were urged to throw their weight behind the Jobs Foundation at its regional launch in Dorset. The charity held its first South West Business Council event with presentations about its work, a panel discussion and questions and answer session. It champions business as a force for good which creates employment, lifts people out of poverty and boosts social mobility. More than 40 supporters attended its South West Business Council launch at the Captain’s Club in Christchurch. Regional chairman Simon Boyd, who is managing director of Christchurch-based REIDsteel, led the panel discussion with 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. Topics included the Employment Rights Bill, the South West jobs market, the hospitality sector, industries best positioned to provide jobs of the future and policy proposals to help businesses create the jobs needed to move two million people from welfare into work. The role of AI, apprenticeships, higher education, workplace-ready training for young people, the Budget, underrepresentation of women in the workplace and support for disabled people in employment were among the topics which generated engaging discussions during the Q&A. Lord Elliott called for businesses to raise awareness of its proposals for a new Skills Tax Relief in the Budget to enable businesses to recoup costs associated with apprenticeships, vocational training and work-based learning to create jobs for nearly one million young people not in education, employment or training. REIDsteel was among the earliest supporters of the Jobs Foundation, which has now has more than 1,300 members on its business council nationwide. Simon, who is a trustee of the foundation, issued a rallying cry for people to join. “Numbers started as a trickle but are steadily growing across the business community. “The more businesses we have, the more power we can generate to pass on expertise to help more people into work and effect policy change.” He added: “The Jobs Foundation is a fantastic vehicle of opportunity for young people, disabled people, older people, those out of work and for businesses to come together to share good ideas and do what’s right for our community, our people and our country.“ The South West is the second regional Business Council to be launched nationwide, after the North East in May. Its next event is a policy roundtable at Exeter College in November with 75 business leaders from across the South West. Georgiana Bristol, chief executive of the Jobs Foundation, said: “We were delighted to launch our South West Business Council. “It will host regional policy roundtables, contribute to the Jobs Foundation’s research programme and become a crucial network for our accreditation scheme when it launches in 2026. “Thanks go to our panel, everyone who attended the launch and our South West Business Council Chairman, Simon Boyd, and REIDsteel, without who this event would not have been possible.” The foundation is an independent, non-partisan charity. Its council is free to join. Global structural steel firm REIDsteel was among the founder members of its business council and featured in its launch video. Visit https://thejobsfoundation.com/ to find out more about the Jobs Foundation and https://thejobsfoundation.com/join-us/ to join its business council.

The countdown is on for the launch of the Jobs Foundation’s South West Business Council. It is being held at the Captain’s Club in Christchurch on Thursday September 25 with a panel of speakers chaired by our managing director Simon Boyd. REIDsteel was a founding member of Jobs Foundation and Simon is a trustee of the charity. He was recently appointed chair of the new South West Business Council. The event on September 25 will formally bring together members in the region and introduce the Foundation’s work to those are interested in finding out more about what it does. Panellists at the launch will be recruitment expert Helen Stacey of Aspire Jobs , Jobs Foundation president Lord Elliott of Mickle Fell and Christchurch Chamber of Trade and Commerce president Tim Lloyd , who is managing director of the Captain's Club Hotel and Spa. An independent and non-partisan charity, the Jobs Foundation was founded in 2023. It believes that business is a force for good which generates employment, boosts social mobility and lifts people out of poverty. It also stands firmly behind business by campaigning for policies and measures which allow them to achieve these goals. The launch event in Christchurch will also be an opportunity to give businesses richly-deserved for recognition and thanks for their critical work in creating jobs, generating tax revenues for public services, supporting communities, driving local economies and fostering social cohesion. It is from 3pm to 4.30pm and includes an afternoon tea.  To find out more about the event email southwest@thejobsfoundation.com

Simon's Interview commences approximately 33 minutes in... REIDsteel managing director Simon Boyd spoke of business concerns when he was a guest on the Daily Telegraph’s Planet Normal podcast. Simon appeared on the popular podcast to discuss the Jobs Foundation’s latest report, 'Jobs and Energy' with journalist and columnist Liam Halligan . The conversation also covered such subject matter as the steel sector, manufacturing, the future of British Steel , high electricity costs and the ‘dangerous’ race to net zero. Simon was critical of Ed Miliband , the Secretary for Energy and Climate Change. He said: “He is so far detached from reality and I think it’s quite dangerous.” Simon described net zero as ‘an absolute disaster’ for steel and manufacturing, and said he did not understand the confusing government policy. “They’re encouraging everyone to buy British steel with one hand, but with the other, they demand low carbon content materials. It doesn’t work.” Simon also hit out at government for failing to grasp the importance of business: “It is real madness at the heart of successive governments who don’t understand the principles of good business.” The Planet Normal podcast is hosted by Liam Halligan with fellow Daily Telegraph columnist Allison Pearson .  Listen to the episode with Simon here and here :