News: Award for Barrett's young gun

Tom Barrett, branch director at Rotherham-based C Roberts, part of the Barrett Steel Group, has won the "Young Gun" category at the fourth annual Red Ribbon Awards for family business.

With headquarters in Bradford, Barrett Steel Group is the UK's largest independent steel stockholder. The Eastwood site holds in stock the largest range of steel in the country and has access to over 50,000 tonnes of general and engineering steel ready for next-day delivery.

The highest accolade for British family businesses, the Red Ribbon Awards are the only national awards to recognise the contribution family businesses of all sizes make to the British economy. The winners were announced at an event at the Lancaster London Hotel earlier this month.

Anita Brightley-Hodges, managing director of Family Business Place who organised the awards, said: "Tom Barrett was chosen as a winner because of his commitment to the family business, his strong work ethic, a respect and admiration from his colleagues and peers and because of his determination to succeed.

"We are delighted to present Tom with this prestigious accolade and wish him continued success with his fantastic family business."

James Barrett, CEO of the Barrett Steel Group and Tom's father, added: "Tom has a natural passion for the business. With his personable and charismatic character he is able to overcome the daily pressures of running a steel business, as well as being part of the sixth generation of the Barrett family. He is a modest young man, who does not shirk his responsibilities and has deservedly earned the respect of his colleagues."

Barrett Steel recently brought together its engineering steel facilities in various parts of the UK under the Barrett Engineering Steel banner. This includes Staniforth-HKB in Rotherham.

Barrett Steel website

Images: Family Business Place

Read more...

News: C Roberts appoint Apprentice winner

Rotherham steel stockholders C Roberts Steel Services has appointed Ashleigh Porter-Exley, winner of BBC's Young Apprentice, as a new sales executive.

Part of the Barrett Steel Group, the Eastwood firm hold in stock the largest range of steel in the country and have access to over 50,000 tonnes of general and engineering steel ready for next-day delivery.

With the support of the award-winning Sheffield recruitment and retention specialist, Benchmark Recruit, Ashleigh has taken up the role whilst contemplating investing her £25,000 winnings in setting up her own property management or financial consultancy business.

Ashleigh Porter-Exley, sales executive at C Roberts (pictured above, centre), said: "Sales has always been one of my strong points and the company is vibrant and busy which matches my personality.

"Of course, being the Young Apprentice has been a strong thing to have on my CV. The show has made me more patient, though. I'm a get-up-and-go sort of girl but, since the show, I've had to really weigh up decisions and take time and not just jump at the first thing."

Ashleigh, from Wath, actually had her first job at just 13, when she worked at a deli in her local indoor market. As soon as she turned 16, she printed a hundred CVs and approached companies in Meadowhall directly, landing her first job at Barratts' Shoes.

Ashleigh added: "Some people are academically gifted but I'm grafting gifted."

Amy Tingle, director at Benchmark, said: "We were delighted that, following her victory, Ashleigh turned to us to help make the correct choice of career path.

"She has the drive and determination to achieve so much but we felt this new post would also help her develop valuable skills in the business world.

"We look forward to giving her our continued support and seeing her career develop because she really does have what it take to make it to the very top."

C Roberts website
Benchmark Recruit website

Images: Benchmark Recruit

Read more...

News: Barrett Steel invests in Rotherham plant

Barrett Steel has increased capacity and reduced lead times at the company's C. Roberts facility in Rotherham by investing in a £500k upgrade to cutting operations.

The installation of a Ficep Tipo A31 automatic CNC drilling and thermal cutting line for steel plate is also anticipated to offer further job opportunities at the Eastwood plant.

Barrett Steel is the UK's largest independent steel stockholder with extensive processing facilities and distribution fleet. The Bradford firm enjoyed a turnover of £197m for the year ending September 2010.

The new plasma drill processor is designed for wide plates up to 200mm thick, making it suitable for the manufacture of bridges and viaducts, agricultural and earth moving machinery, mining equipment and other heavy structural steel operations.

Tom Barrett, branch manager at C. Roberts, said: "C. Roberts is already a well established general steel stockholder that has recently invested in steel plate stocks and machinery.

"The addition of the new Ficep, which makes cutting intricate shapes out of plate, tapping holes, marking, pointing, milling and hard stamping sheet quicker and easier, is an excellent bolt-on to our current stockholding and cutting facilities.

"As well as cutting lead times the line should be more efficient, saving our customers both time and money."

In September, Barrett Nickel Alloys opened a new processing and distribution facility in Templebrough, Rotherham.

Barrett Steel website

Images: barrettsteel.com

Read more...