MOVERS & SHAKERS PATRICK WESTWOOD

Quality is the mantra for new Hampton Steel chief.

South African Patrick Westwood has played a pivotal role in the success of Hampton Steel since joining as Operations Manager in 2011.

Fourteen years on and he’s now at the helm of the largest British-owned manufacturer of wire fencing after being appointed as MD in November 2024.

Born in Johannesburg and raised near Port Elizabeth, Patrick moved to the UK in 1995.

“I’d visited the UK prior to that,” explained Patrick “and decided to relocate here to find work with my wife moving over at the end of that year. The UK has welcomed us with open arms, and after 30 years here, we truly feel a sense of belonging, contributing to the country that has given us so much.

After a brief spell in hospitality, I spent five years working on the shop floor with Kenwood whilst living on the Isle of Wight. I studied Mechanical Engineering part time and progressed through Production Engineering into Production Management before moving into the composites industry where I stayed until I joined Hampton Steel in Northamptonshire.”

Patrick, who did an apprenticeship in engineering whilst in South Africa, settled in well with Hampton Steel and was appointed Technical Director in 2017.

“One of my biggest challenges was overseeing the move alongside a team of colleagues to a new site in Wellingborough in 2015 as well as the installation of a lot of cutting-edge machinery that has helped to establish Hampton Steel as a major player in the fencing sector.

My engineering background gives me a unique edge in managing operations and driving technical excellence. Every one of our products is designed with precision and built to meet the highest standards. We are not just a manufacturer but a leader shaping the future of the industry.

Since becoming MD late last year, the learning curve has been a steep one!”

Incorporated in 1991, Hampton Steel has notched a number of notable milestones in recent decades, starting with cold rolled, light gauge galvanised steel sections for the construction industry with chain link fencing launched two years later. In 2007 the company launched hinge joint fencing followed by Stiff Stay fencing in 2011 for agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, zoos, leisure, commerce and infrastructure.

Patrick went on, “In 2018, we introduced the Versalok® intermediate fence post, Versalok was designed as a more durable, sustainable alternative to traditional wooden posts, which are prone to rotting and damage from the elements.

I’m incredibly proud to have been part of the team that designed and brought Versalok to market. Watching the company evolve and seeing the impact of this product has been truly rewarding. Versalok posts are guaranteed to last for 30 years, significantly reducing the need for frequent replacements. This makes them a more cost-effective and reliable solution for farmers and landowners. It’s been amazing to see how far we’ve come, and I’m excited to continue supporting the growth of this innovative product.”

Our cold rolling activities still operate from our base on London Road while the wire division operates from Sanders Road, supplying to over 20 countries across the world.

We’ve always aimed to deliver changes as efficiently as possible with quality and flow as the mantra.

Our customers want a top-quality product and we always strive to get it right first time and every time. It’s easy to become complacent but our healthy focus on the needs of the customer is at the heart of everything we do. We cannot afford to take our eye off the ball!

We take a lot of pride in the fact that we are the largest British owned manufacturer in our sector and always try to promote the merits of British manufacturing to a wider audience,” added Patrick who is a passionate follower of Moto GP and lifelong biking enthusiast.

I took over the mantle here from previous MD Mark Johnson, a veteran of 40 years with Hampton Steel and I’m acutely aware of the massive strides the company made under his leadership.

It’s now my job to ensure that our quality approach continues to permeate everything we do and that our reputation continues to grow both here and abroad. It’s a challenge that I’m relishing!” concluded Patrick.