The firm has acquired businesses across structural steel market sectors within the UK[1] and EU,[11] and it participates withJSW Group in aMumbai basedjoint venture that fabricates 100,000 tons of structural steel per annum.[7] Severfield owns 50% of Construction Metal Forming Ltd which in 2023, claimed to be the UK's largest supplier ofsteel decking.[12]
The business was founded in 1978 as apartnership named Severfield-Reeve; moved toDalton in 1980,[1] andincorporated as Severfield Reeve Structural Engineers Ltd in 1983. As apublic company it was known from 1988 to 1999 as Severfield-Reeve plc; from 1999 to 2014 as Severfield-Rowen plc, and then adopted its current title.[13]
Rijssen based Voortman Steel Construction Holding BV purchased for £21.2 million.[11][a]
2021
Carnaby based support structure and railway steelwork contractor, DAM Structures Ltd purchased for a minimum initial cost of £12 million, potentially rising to £27 million.[20]
2019
Bolton basednuclear andinfrastructure structural steel business Harry Peers & Co Ltd purchased for a minimum initial cost of £18 million, potentially rising to £25 million.[21] Acquisition included manufacturing site at Bolton.[22][b]
Mamhilad basedcold rolled structural steel manufacturer Composite Metal Forming Ltd purchased (50%) for a minimum initial cost of £4.1 million, potentially rising to £6.6 million.[5][34][d]
2014
JSW Structural Metal Decking Ltd (33%) indirect joint venture opened in Mumbai.[36][e]
Ballinamallard based structural steel contractor Fisher Engineering Ltd purchased for £90 million in shares and cash.[42][f]
2006
Entered intoSteel UK Ltd (50%) joint venture withSheffield based steelstockholder Murray Metals Group Ltd to negotiate steel purchase prices for both partners[46][47]
^ Renamed Construction Metal Forming Ltd in 2018.[35]
^Composite steel deck manufacturer, is2⁄3 owned by JSW Severfield Structures Ltd, and1⁄3 by a partnership associated with, former Severfield subsidiary, Structural Metal Decks Ltd.[37][36][38][39]
^Founded in 1949, as Ward Brothers, by Frank and Wilf Ward.[50] The businessfloated in 1986 before being bought byRugby Cement, and laterKingspan. In 1996,management bought out the hot rolled structural steel fabrication part of the business, supported by3i, for £11.3 million.[51] It went on to construct aCoca-Cola plant inBrovary and win aQueen's Award for Export,[52] before encountering financial difficulties[53] and disposing of its overseas subsidiaries.[54]William Hare Group acquired Atlas Ward's stake in Fabsec Ltd.[55]
^As of 2022[update], no longer listed as a Severfield site.[58]
^Purchase also included the 25% of Structural Metal Decks Ltd not owned directly by J N Rowen Ltd. In 1998, Structural Metal Decks Ltd was sold for £1.8 million to its management.[77][37][71] In 1993, Rowen andJohn Laing had been fined £125,000[78] following 1991 damage to a church. They and crane hire company Hewden Stuart Wolff had already agreed to pay £600,000 towards rebuilding costs.[79] The crane had been working at a site acrossOld Thames Street when it crashed down intoSt James Garlickhythe and caused £2 million of damage.[80] As of 2022[update], the Sutton-in-Ashfield site is occupied by ECS Engineering Services[81] who moved there in 2014.[82]
^A A Steel Erection Ltd renamed Steelcraft Erection Services Ltd in 1993.[86] Freehold premises at Shildon sold in 1994.[87]
In 1991, Severfield Reeve acquired 80% of steel trading business, Steel (UK) Ltd[84] and bought out the remaining minority shareholdings in 2009.[88] The company ceased trading in 2002; was renamed Stable Move Ltd in 2005, and dissolved in 2013 owing £1,161,732 to Severfield plc and eliminating shareholder value.[89][90][91]
In 2006, Severfield established Steel UK Ltd as a 50% joint venture withSheffield based steelstockholderMurray Metals Group Ltd to negotiate steel purchase prices for both partners.[46][47] The company had been incorporated in 2005 as Stable Move Ltd. Severfield and Murray bought steel at prices agreed with suppliers by Steel UK and the company did not trade itself. The joint venture was dissolved in 2013.[47][92][93]
In 1995, Severfield'smeat processing safety equipment subsidiary Manabo (UK) Ltd began trading. Initially the business was a 75% joint venture with the original technology developer but in 1996, Severfield Reeve bought out all remaining minority shareholdings. The establishedScandinavian distributor for Manabo's products agreed to purchase from the new company. Manabo manufactured at sites aroundThirsk and from 1997, operated achain mail glove factory inBataszek, Hungary.[83][75][72][73]
Such was the anticipated transformation of the structural steel business that by 1997,The Times described Severfield as a "specialist engineer and supplier of equipment for the meat and poultry processing industry".[94] However in the same year, company founder John Severs blamed Manabo's six monthly £902,000 losses on the meat industry being "reluctant to change its ways in health and hygiene".The glove business and company were sold in 2000 after a further £2 million loss in 1998, and assetwrite-down of £2.8 million in 1999.[72][95][83]
In 1991, subsidiary Severfield Reeve Projects Ltd wasincorporated, initially to carry out construction at Severfield's plants. It began to undertakemain contracting for others in 1997.[96][74]
1998
Express Terminals Ltd (Ripon), National Tube Stockholders Ltd (Dalton) and Talking Pictures Cards Ltd (Thirsk)[97]
Severfield Reeve Projects diversified intohouse building in 2002, purchasing, on its own account, a site inBagby for two traditional, five bedroom dwellings with 1 acre (0.40 ha) gardens.[59][103]
In 1999, Severfield purchased 25.1% ofSheffield based design bureau Kennedy Watts Partnership Ltd for £464,000 in shares and cash. The shareholding was restructured in 2008 so that it was held through an intermediary, Last Exit Ltd. Kennedy Watts Partnership Ltd was placed intoadministration in 2013; intoliquidation in 2014, anddissolved in 2016 with a deficit to creditors of £292,000 and elimination of all shareholder stakes.[108][109][110][71]
In 2006, Severfieldpatented a craned or self climbing work platform that attaches to steelwork at height, and mounts its own poweredaccess platform. The apparatus was invented to assist erection of steel structures where conditions are not suitable for safe operation of conventional access equipment.[48] In 2009, the work platform project was abandoned and £2.4 million development costswritten off.[111]
Severfield went on to develop 'deck rider' static base boom lifts with access platform manufacturer Niftylift. These can be repositioned by crane onto buildings under construction to sit in thesteel decking.[112] By 2009, they had been used on Severfield'sShard andHeron Tower sites[113] facilitating safe erection speeds of a storey every seven days - without waiting for concrete floors to set. By 2011, Severfield had purchased 20 of the machines.[112]
As of 2025, deck riders are commercially available.[114]
Severfield plc'sRIDDOR ratios have improved, and are lower than its industry average. Senior executives are remunerated according to theaccident frequency rate[a] of the business units they oversee.[118][119][22]
^abcAccident frequency rate measured by reportable injuries, leading to at least 3 days off work, per 100,000 hours worked (or roughly a lifetime employment)[120][121]
In 2024, Severfield madeprovisions of £20.4 million for potential remediation work on at least 12 bridges manufactured forHS2 andNational Highways. Affected structures included three completed HS2 bridges[157] and the 3,400 tonnes (3,300 long tons) Allerdene Bridge over theEast Coast Mainline inGateshead. National Highways imposed traffic restrictions and lane closures on a section of theA1 until the weld defects had been resolved, and indicated the bridges' lives could be reduced.[158] Anindustry media report suggested approachviaducts toBirmingham Curzon Street railway station were affected and that the issue relates tobutt welds inweathering steel.[159]
In 2021, a steel erector employed by Severfield fell down a staircase atGoogle'sKings Cross site and was unfit to work for six days. Severfield suspected fraud and summarily dismissed him, but anEmployment Tribunal determined the incident occurred; that the employee wasunfairly dismissed, and awarded £2,721 in compensation. There was no order for payment in lieu ofnotice because, post dismissal, the erector took immediate, better remunerated employment elsewhere.[160]
In March 2020, Severfield was served aHealth and Safety Executive Improvement Notice because of hazardous welding fumes at itsLostock works. The fault was corrected by April 2020.[162]
In July 2019, subsidiary Severfield Design and Build Ltd was suspended from the UK Government'sPrompt Payment Code for failing to pay suppliers on time.[163] The firm submitted an action plan to theChartered Institute of Credit Management and was reinstated by November 2019.[164]
During 2013, Severfield acknowledged substantial contractual losses in relation toLeadenhall Tower in theCity of London. This prompted a major restructuring of the business;[165] departure of the Chief Executive,[166] and a £45mrights issue.[165] Severfield's 2012 accounts included a £9.9 millioncharge for losses at Leadenhall Tower, plus a further £10.2 million on other delinquent contracts.[167]
In 2014, twoembrittled bolts broke and fell from Leadenhall Tower. Another snapped in 2015. Severfield announced an anticipated £6 million charge for bolt remediation works in 2015, and final settlement in 2019.[168]Leeds based Andrews Fasteners Ltd, who went intoadministration, supplied[131][169] the 3,000 defective 'megabolts', each the size of a human arm.[170] A majority were replaced. Severfield had not used the bolts before and its Chief Executive commented that it would be unlikely to do so in the future.[171]
During 2017 redevelopment of nearby22 Bishopsgate, a suspended girder struck Leadenhall Tower. Severfield was the steel frame subcontractor toMultiplex's Bishopsgate site. Nobody was hurt.[172]
In November 2017, Severfield was served a Health and Safety Executive Improvement Notice because of tools causing excessivehand arm vibrations at itsDalton facility. New working practices were applied by March 2018.[173]
In 2011, a plater at the site had suffered permanent damage to his hands caused by vibrating tools provided by the firm. He developedwhite finger.[174]
In 2016, the Health and Safety Executive fined Severfield £135,000, plus £46,020 costs,[175] following a 2013 incident when a 27 year old was fatally crushed at its Dalton site. After movingwelding wire, he had been reversing aforklift at speed and it overturned. Judge Anthony Briggs accepted Severfield had sought to ensure the safety of its staff but said it had been blind to enforcing the use ofseat belts on forklift trucks. After the accident, £9,000 was raised for theYorkshire Air Ambulance.[176]
In 2013, Severfield contracted with theDuro Felguera group to provide steelwork for the newCarrington Power Station. Duro Felguera's UK subsidiary refused to pay a December 2014 stage payment. Severfield obtainedadjudication under theHousing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 for £2,470,231.97, and then soughtsummary judgement from theHigh Court of Justice to enforce payment for a reduced amount of £1,445,495.78.Judge Stuart-Smith refused because part of the sum related to a power plant and was therefore excluded from the 1996 Act, and the adjudicator's jurisdiction. Duro Felguera argued it was in fact owed money by Severfield because of overpayments.[177]
Severfield finally obtained a judgement fromMr Justice Coulson in 2017 for £2,774,077.91 (or £1,760,480.27 up to 2014) but by then Duro Felguera UK Ltd had enteredliquidation and recovery was limited to what Duro Felguera in Spain could be obliged to pay under aparent company guarantee for the period up to 2014.[178]
In 2012, Severfield settled the claim from a welder who had been moving steelwork with acrane and faulty plate clamp. A 10 foot (3.0 m) long, and 2 foot (0.61 m) wide, beam fell and crushed his foot.[179]
In 2011, Severfield reduced the number of welders at itsSherburn site by selectively not renewing thecontract of an employee who was caring for his disabled wife. He claimeddiscrimination by association. Severfield could not satisfy theemployment tribunal there was any other reason for the dismissal and the welder was awarded £10,500 compensation with a recommendation he should be re-employed.[180]
Severfield subsidiary Watson Steel Structures Ltd fabricated theClyde Arc Bridge in 2007. It had to be closed in 2008 because aclevis connector failed and a 35 metres (110 ft) longtension bar fell onto the carriageway. Another clevis was found to be cracked and it was decided to replace all 14 tension bars in the structure. Watson Steel Structures Ltd claimed £1.8 million fromMacalloy, the clevis supplier, alleging its product was faulty. Macalloy denied the claim and countered Watson Steel Structures Ltd had only specified minimum yield stress for the components.[138][181][182]
In 2001, directors of the company, including John Severs, purchased its headquarters property for £14 million. In 2007, the company bought it back again for £23.5 million. Both transactions were endorsed by the independent directors.[42]
Shareholders rebelled against a 2007 payment of £1.6 million to retiring Managing Director, John Severs. They refused to pass a resolution atAGM to authorise the payment which had already been made.[183]
In 2005 Severfield dismissed apainter,[184] at its newly acquiredSherburn site,[185] who sufferedallergic industrial contact dermatitis following exposure toepoxy resin paint. He claimed compensation. Severfield initially denied, but then accepted responsibility just before the 2007High Court hearing. Mr Recorder Salter went on to award the painter £113,168.15 damages including £50,000 for loss of future earnings. The firmappealed but in 2008,Lord Justice Keene's judgement rejected its arguments and increased the award for future earnings loss to £90,000.[184]
In 1989, a subsidiary ofGeorg Fischer AG built adistribution warehouse nearCoventry. The shallowpitch roof leaked, exacerbated by deflection of supporting steelwork. It sued the builders and designer. Severfield-Reeve plc was the steelwork subcontractor and met specifications supplied to it by the designer. In 1994, Severfield-Reeve plc agreed to pay £175,000 to the building owner in return for an indemnity against all parties in the matter.[186]
In 2009, Severfield became third party in a claim relating to the leaking roof at an Albert Bartlett potato processing plant inAirdrie constructed by its subsidiary Atlas Ward Structures. Severfield agreed joint liability with the building's main contractors.Lord Menzies in theOuter House of the Court of Session was asked to choose between remediation options for the Airdrie premises, the alternatives differing in cost and quantum of damages. He drew attention to the similar decision that had faced Judge Hicks in the Fischer warehouse case.[187]
In 2011, theDaily Mirror alleged the retractable roof overWimbledon Centre Court leaked during a quarter finaltennis match.[188] Severfield completed the 3,000 ton moving roof in 2009.[10] TheAll England Club stated the leaks were in the permanent roof, not the mobile section, and were "part of the normal drainage process".[188]
^Construction Metal Forming Ltd. Strategic report, report of the directors and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 (Report). Companies House. p. 2.
^Watson Steel Structures Ltd (formerly S R Structures Ltd) Report and Financial Statements for the 61 week period ending 31 December 2002 (Report) – via Companies House.
^Severfield Reeve Projects Ltd Annual Accounts 2006, Companies House
^Brown, Tom (6 October 2011)."Statement of Mr Tom Brown".Hambleton District Council.Archived from the original on 9 August 2022. Retrieved9 August 2022.
^"About".Severfield Europe. Retrieved4 April 2025.
^"Locations".Met Structures.Archived from the original on 2 April 2022. Retrieved5 May 2022.
^Strategic Report and Financial Statements for Construction Metal Forming Ltd for the year to 31 December 2021 (Report). CMF. 2021 – via Companies House.