The Metal Guys Talk Business – Details, episodes & analysis

The Sertec story with Grant Adams

Host: Pete Comerford and Michael Bolton
Guest: Grant Adams, Chief Executive Officer of Sertec
Episode Title: Metal Bashing to Multi-Million Success
Release Date: 27th August 2024

Episode Summary: In this episode, Pete and Mike sit down with Grant Adams, the Chief Executive Officer of Sertec, to delve into the fascinating journey of transforming a modest metal bashing operation into a multi-million pound success story. Grant shares his experiences from his early days in the automotive industry, the invaluable lessons learned from mentors, and the strategic decisions that propelled Sertec to the forefront of the industry.

Key Topics Covered:

Early Career and Mentorship:

• Grant's Beginnings: From British Leyland to Sertec, the early days shaped Grant's career.
• Influential Mentors: The key figures who guided Grant's professional journey and their lasting impact.

Meeting Harry Mosedale:

• First Impressions: The memorable first meeting with Harry Mosedale and its significance.
• Proving Worth: Stories of Grant's initial challenges and how he gained Harry's trust through hard work and dedication.

Sertec’s Evolution:

• Reliability and Family Values: How Sertec maintained its core values while navigating industry challenges.
• Growth Strategies: Insights into acquiring competitors and maintaining a competitive edge in the market.

Leadership and Corporate Experience:

• Transition to Sertec: Grant’s shift from Land Rover to Sertec and the appeal of its entrepreneurial spirit.
• Rising Through the Ranks: The journey to becoming Commercial Director and the importance of corporate experience in professional growth.

Passion and Business DNA:

• Core Business Values: The role of passion and DNA in building a successful business.
• Real-Life Illustrations: Anecdotes highlighting these values' significance in Sertec’s operations.

Challenges and Achievements:

• Industry Challenges: Overcoming obstacles in the metal stamping industry and leading Sertec through tough times.
• Notable Achievements: Celebrating milestones and significant successes under Grant’s leadership.

Learn more about Sertec by clicking here

Connect with Grant Adams on LinkedIn

SEASON THREE of The Metal Guys Talk Business is sponsored by:

SteelBuy - SteelBuy is a digital platform revolutionising the way businesses trade metal products online.

TW Metals - TW Metals is a stockholder and distributor of Nickel Alloy, Aluminium, Titanium and Stainless Steel products in a range of forms including Tube, Bar, Pipe, EXtrusion as well as Sheets and Plates.

Comton Group - A recruitment agency powering employment in the Metal, Manufacturing, and Engineering sectors.

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The Metal Guys Talk Business is created and produced by Comton Group.

Contact us on our social media channels to discuss the podcast and recruitment solutions for your business. 

TikTok: comtonpete and comtonmike
Instagram: comtonpete and comtonmike

Hosts: Pete Comerford and Mike Bolton

Guest: Liam Conway

Episode Title: The 2024 Energy Market with Liam Conway

Release Date: August 20th, 2024

Episode Summary:

In this episode, Pete and Mike sit down with Liam Conway from Greenfields Energy Group to discuss the state of the energy market as of 2024. Liam shares his expert perspective on how the market has evolved since the chaotic period of 2022, the impact of wholesale cost changes, and strategies businesses can adopt to manage their energy consumption and costs effectively. The conversation covers flexible energy contracts, the importance of understanding different cost components in energy bills, and the significant changes in energy contract structures.

Key Discussion Points:

Current State of the Energy Market:

• The drastic reduction in wholesale electricity and gas costs since 2022.
• Comparison of current prices to the highs experienced during the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

Flexible Energy Contracts:

• Explanation of flexible vs. fixed energy contracts and their benefits.
• The importance of flexible contracts during periods of high market volatility.

Energy Cost Components:

• Breakdown of the different cost elements in commercial energy contracts.
• The impact of distribution, transmission, taxes, and levies on overall energy costs.

Targeted Charging Review:

• Introduction to the targeted charging review and its implications for businesses.
• How changes in standing charges and distribution charges affect businesses.

Energy Procurement Strategies:

• Advice on purchasing energy for businesses, including the significance of load shedding and avoiding peak charges.
• The importance of understanding contract structures and avoiding overly simplistic price comparisons.

Education and Advice:

• The role of educating businesses about their energy consumption and costs.
• The need for businesses to seek expert advice to navigate complex energy markets.

Impact on Manufacturers:

• Specific challenges faced by manufacturers regarding energy costs.
• Strategies manufacturers can employ to mitigate high energy expenses.

Learn more about Greenfields Energy Group here

Connect with Liam Conway on LinkedIn

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SEASON THREE of The Metal Guys Talk Business is sponsored by:

SteelBuy - SteelBuy is a digital platform revolutionising the way businesses trade metal products online.

TW Metals - TW Metals is a stockholder and distributor of Nickel Alloy, Aluminium, Titanium and Stainless Steel products in a range of forms including Tube, Bar, Pipe, Extrusion as well as Sheets and Plates.

Comton Group - A recruitment agency powering employment in the Metal, Manufacturing, and Engineering sectors.

-

The Metal Guys Talk Business is created and produced by Comton Group.

Contact us on our social media channels to discuss the podcast and recruitment solutions for your business. 

Social Media Accounts:

Follow us on LinkedIn 

TikTok: comtonpete and comtonmike
Instagram: comtonpete and comtonmike

Host: Peter Comerford and Michael Bolton

Guest: Gail Thomas, VP & Managing Director at TW Metals

Episode Title: Navigating Aerospace Supply Chain Challenges

Release Date: June 18th, 2024

Episode Summary:

In this insightful episode, we delve into the intricate world of aerospace supply chain management with Gail Thomas, a seasoned expert with over 46 years of experience in the industry. We explore the current pain points, geopolitical impacts, and the future outlook for material procurement in aerospace.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Introduction to the Industry:
   • Gail shares their journey into the metals industry, starting at age 16, and the various roles they have held over the years, leading to their current position.
   • Discussion on the evolution of the company from its early days to becoming TW Metals.
2. Current State of the Aerospace Sector:
   • Analysis of the aerospace industry's current challenges, including material shortages and extended lead times, exacerbated by geopolitical events such as the conflict in Ukraine.
   • Impact of supply chain disruptions on production schedules, with lead times stretching from 18 weeks for stainless steel to over 80 weeks for titanium.
3. Geopolitical and Economic Influences:
   • Exploration of how geopolitical tensions, particularly with Russia and potential issues with Chinese and Korean products, are affecting the aerospace supply chain.
   • Discussion on anti-dumping duties and their impact on procurement strategies and business operations.
4. Supply Chain Management Strategies:
   • Insight into how TW Metals navigates these challenges through strong partnerships and forward-booking, providing some level of protection against supply chain volatility.
   • Considerations for risk management when dealing with long lead times and uncertain geopolitical climates.
5. Technological and Market Developments:
   • Examination of new technologies, such as 3D printing, and their potential impact on the aerospace supply chain. While promising, widespread adoption in the near term is not anticipated.
   • Ongoing demand for niche products like 21-6-9 stainless steel, despite predictions of their decline.
6. Future Opportunities and Industry Trends:
   • Discussion on opportunities within the aerospace sector, particularly through acquisitions rather than startups due to high entry barriers.
   • Reflections on the importance of maintaining a controlled supply chain to manage the complexities of aerospace manufacturing

Learn more about TW Metals: Website Link
Connect with Gail Thomas on LinkedIn

SEASON THREE of The Metal Guys Talk Business is sponsored by:

SteelBuy - SteelBuy are a digital platform revolutionising the way businesses trade metal products online.

TW Metals - TW Metals are a stockholder and distributor of Nickel Alloy, Aluminium, Titanium and Stainless Steel products in a range of forms including Tube, Bar, Pipe, Extrusion as well as Sheets and Plates.

Comton Group - A recruitment agency powering employment in the Metal, Manufacturing and Engineering sectors.

–

The Metal Guys Talk Business is created and produced by Comton Group. 

Contact us on our social media channels to discuss the podcast and recruitment solutions for your business.

Social Media Accounts:

Follow us on LinkedIn
TikTok: comtonpete and comtonmike
Instagram: comtonmike and comtonpete

Hosts: Peter Comerford and Michael Bolton

Episode Title: The Metal Guys are Back!

Release Date: June 11th, 2024

Welcome back to "The Metal Guys Talk Business" for the much-anticipated Season 3! 

In this episode, hosts Pete Comerford and Mike Bolton kick off the new season with exciting updates, reflections on the past year, and plans for the upcoming episodes. After almost a year-long hiatus, the podcast returns with a commitment to weekly releases, bringing fresh content and insightful conversations to our dedicated listeners.

In this episode we discuss

1. Season 3 Launch and Schedule:
   • The episode marks the beginning of Season 3, promising weekly releases for 15 weeks of 2024.
   • Pete and Mike discuss the break they took and their renewed commitment to consistency in delivering high-quality content.
2. Reflections and Lessons Learned:
   • We reflect on the 21 episodes from previous seasons and share insights gained from recording four episodes for this season. 
   • We emphasise the importance of staying relevant and informative by continuously exploring industry trends and career stories.
3. Guest Appearances and Industry Insights:
   • Upcoming episodes will feature a variety of guests, including Terry Sargent, CEO of SteelBuy, and Grant Adams, CEO of Sertec discussing manufacturing challenges and innovations.
   • Mike highlights the value of reaching a wider audience in the sector aiming to peak the interest of service providers, manufacturers and engineers. 
4. Engagement and Community Building:
   • We discuss how the podcast aims to foster deeper engagement with its audience by encouraging debates and discussions on industry-specific topics.
   • We also address past feedback and plan to incorporate more controversial and thought-provoking questions to spark meaningful conversations.
5. Marketing Strategies and Content Creation:
   • Future episodes will delve into effective marketing strategies within the industrial sector.
   • We also talk about an upcoming episode focusing on niche marketing and content production aimed at driving action and engagement.

Looking Forward:

As "The Metal Guys Talk Business" embarks on Season 3, we are excited about the new direction and the opportunity to engage more deeply with their audience. Listeners can look forward to a mix of personal stories, industry insights, and expert opinions that will provide valuable perspectives on the latest trends and challenges.

So stay tuned for our weekly episodes, and don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review on your favourite podcast platform. Join the conversation on social media and let us know what topics you want us to explore next!

Tune in next week for another exciting episode of The Metal Guys talk Business where we meet Gail Thomas from TW Metals.

SEASON THREE of The Metal Guys Talk Business is sponsored by:

SteelBuy - SteelBuy are a digital platform revolutionising the way businesses trade metal products online.

TW Metals - TW Metals are a stockholder and distributor of Nickel Alloy, Aluminium, Titanium and Stainless Steel products in a range of forms including Tube, Bar, Pipe, Extrusion as well as Sheets and Plates.

Comton Group - A recruitment agency powering employment in the Metal, Manufacturing and Engineering sectors.

–

The Metal Guys Talk Business is created and produced by Comton Group. 

Contact us on our social media channels to discuss the podcast and recruitment solutions for your business.

Social Media Accounts:

Follow us on LinkedIn
TikTok: comtonpete and comtonmike
Instagram: comtonmike and comtonpete

In this BONUS episode, Pete speaks with Rob Cooper and Eric Partington about the new Stainless Steel in the Food and Beverage Industry event, which will be held on 9th March 2023 at the Warwickshire Golf and Country Club, Leek Wootton, Warwick.

The event is jointly hosted by the British Stainless Steel Association (BSSA), the Nickel Institute and the European Hygienic Engineering and Design Group (EHEDG), and will showcase a variety of information and material relating to the use of stainless steel in the food and beverage industry.

Rob Cooper, Managing Director of the BSSA, and Eric Partington, Chair of the EHEDG UK & Ireland regional group and consultant to the Nickel Institute, share their thoughts about why the event is important and who will benefit from attending.

With so many grades of stainless steel and the rules around hygienic design and food-safe materials being updated, this is essential listening for anyone involved in supplying material or producing machinery for use in the food and beverage industry.

For tickets to the event, contact Rob Cooper via LinkedIn or visit this link: https://bssa.org.uk/event/stainless-steel-in-the-food-and-beverage-industry/

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SEASON TWO of The Metal Guys Talk Business is sponsored by:

The UK Metals Expo - 13th-14th September 2023, NEC Birmingham - ukmetalsexpo.com

Anglo Stainless - Supplier of stainless steel pipes, fittings and flanges - anglostainless.co.uk

Amron Architectural - Specialists in metal meshes and architectural finishes - www.amronarchitectural.co.uk

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The Metal Guys Talk Business is created and produced by Comton Group. Comton Group are a Metal and Engineering Agency supplying Temporary, Permanent and Contract Staff, as well as Media and Marketing services. Comton Group also publish a digital publication 'The Metal Magazine', which features the latest news and information from across the Metal and Engineering sectors.

Contact us on our social media channels to discuss the podcast, recruitment and our marketing solutions for your business.

https://linktr.ee/comtongroup

In this episode, Pete and Mike met Terry Sargeant, the new CEO of SteelBuy and the current Chairman and CEO of ThyssenKrupp UK PLC. 

We've spoken with a number of e-commerce platforms since we started the podcast, and Terry gave us some great insight into the why, how and future plans for this website. With finance in place, a clear plan and a small but growing team, it will be interesting to see how this platform performs in the coming months and years.

The SteelBuy website makes the following statement about the business:

"SteelBuy is an easy-to-use online marketplace that instantly connects buyers and sellers to trade quickly and anonymously, without compromising on quality.

"Buy and sell from anywhere, at any time!"

The website goes live on the 2nd of December 2022 and will be officially unveiled at the ISTA Annual Luncheon on that same day.

Amongst other things, we talk about:

* Why now
* Initial funding and the feasibility study 
* Compliance, anti-corruption and anti-trust
* ThyssenKrupp and its involvement

* £22 million for the UK and more to come for Europe and the USA
* Products at launch, and the next steps

* Anonymity for buyers
* How the site works
* Payments, terms and conditions and credit
* Who can sell on the platform, and vetting suppliers
* Human vs Digital interactions
* Growth Strategy and a multinational, gender-diverse team
* If the platform is really a win-win for suppliers and buyers

This podcast was recorded on November 29th 2022

To find out more about SteelBuy, check out the links below:

Website https://steel-buy.com/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/steelbuy/

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SEASON TWO of The Metal Guys Talk Business is sponsored by:

The UK Metals Expo - 13th-14th September 2023, NEC Birmingham - ukmetalsexpo.com

Anglo Stainless - Supplier of stainless steel pipes, fittings and flanges - anglostainless.co.uk

Amron Architectural - Specialists in metal meshes and architectural finishes - www.amronarchitectural.co.uk

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The Metal Guys Talk Business is created and produced by Comton Group. Comton Group are a Metal and Engineering Agency supplying Temporary, Permanent and Contract Staff and Media and Marketing services. Comton Group also publish a digital publication 'The Metal Magazine', which features the latest news and information from across the Metal and Engineering sectors.

Contact us on our social media channels to discuss the podcast, recruitment and our marketing solutions for your business.

https://linktr.ee/comtongroup

In this episode, Pete and Mike spoke with Cathy Bell from i-SPACE - the latest innovative research project by Swansea University.

i-SPACE is an acronym, which stands for "Innovative Steel Processing Accelerating the Circular Economy". In layman's terms, they aim to develop an industrial-scale end-of-life material shredding and sorting facility for the UK steel industry, supporting the work towards zero-waste and the elimination of down-cycling.

Cathy is the project manager for this WEFO- and ERDF-funded project, with a background of over 30 years in the metal industry, and she shared her insight into the project and the future of metal recycling.

Amongst other things, they talk about:

* Who are i-SPACE
* The reason we need an advanced recycling pilot plant
* Why recycling should is the forth best option for steel products behind Re Use, Repair or Remanufacture
* The current issues surrounding the recycling of end of life components
* Contamination, and how this can cause additional costs for steel makers
* The circular economy across the complete steel supply chain
* Net Zero in the Steel Industry
* What TRL (Technology Readiness Levels) is, and who is involved in the project
* When do we think we MAY see a project plant, and what is it likely to cost
* Landfill of precious metals and how we can change the throwaway culture
* The change from Linear to a Circular Economy
* The current UK recycling infrastructure
* Who will be able to access the research, development and design at the pilot plant
* The future of the UK Steel industry, and how it is positioned globally.
* STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths
* How Cathy got into the steel industry, and her early career
* Not making any career mistakes 😉
* Taking on a contract position after being in full time employment

This podcast was recorded in October 2022

To find out more about the i-SPACE project, take a look at the following links:

Swansea University: https://www.swansea.ac.uk/science-and-engineering/i-space/

The Engineer: https://www.theengineer.co.uk/content/news/i-space-makes-case-for-advanced-recycling-pilot-plant

ATF Professional: https://atfpro.co.uk/i-space-maximising-scrap-from-end-of-life-components/

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SEASON TWO of The Metal Guys Talk Business is sponsored by:

The UK Metals Expo - 13th-14th September 2023, NEC Birmingham - ukmetalsexpo.com

Anglo Stainless - Supplier of stainless steel pipes, fittings and flanges - anglostainless.co.uk

Amron Architectural - Specialists in metal meshes and architectural finishes - www.amronarchitectural.co.uk

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The Metal Guys Talk Business is created and produced by Comton Group. Comton Group are a Metal and Engineering Agency supplying Temporary, Permanent and Contract Staff and Media and Marketing services. Comton Group also publish a digital publication 'The Metal Magazine', which features the latest news and information from across the Metal and Engineering sectors.

Contact us on our social media channels to discuss the podcast, recruitment and our marketing solutions for your business.

https://linktr.ee/comtongroup

Fractory is a multi-national digital manufacturing platform, enabling designers to obtain instant quotations for the production of parts based on their CAD drawings, and to manufacture and deliver the parts quickly and reliably to anywhere in the world.

In September 2022 we met up with Johnny Ly and Mark Kerwin to talk about the Estonian start-up's bold claims and discuss the future of digital platforms in the metal and engineering sectors.

Having spoken with the now-defunct digital start-up SteelScout in the first season of The Metal Guys Talk Business, we were intrigued to speak with Fractory, another digital platform with significant financial backing. 

With more than 33,000 satisfied orders completed and 2.5 million parts supplied, the business is already well set, and after securing more than $9 million USD in Venture Capital funding we were interested to learn more. 

Amongst other things we talk about:

* Who are Fractory?
* What is the plan for the business, and why should people care?
* How are they onboarding suppliers and customers?
* Is this a purely digital platform, or can you talk to the team?
* How does the platform work for suppliers?
* What technical expertise do they have in-house?
* Credit for suppliers
* Financial backing and growth plans
* Is it 'just another web store' or a 'legitimate digital platform'?
* Why suppliers shouldn't fear the platform 
* New markets
* Quality, and keeping this consistent for customers

Visit the Fractory website to find out more about the business, or to become a supplier or customer: https://fractory.com/

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SEASON TWO of The Metal Guys Talk Business is sponsored by:

The UK Metals Expo - 13th-14th September 2023, NEC Birmingham - ukmetalsexpo.com

Anglo Stainless - Supplier of stainless steel pipes, fittings and flanges - anglostainless.co.uk

Amron Architectural - Specialists in metal meshes and architectural finishes - www.amronarchitectural.co.uk

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The Metal Guys Talk Business is created and produced by Comton Group. Comton Group are a Metal and Engineering Agency supplying Temporary, Permanent and Contract Staff and Media and Marketing services. Comton Group also publish a digital publication 'The Metal Magazine', which features the latest news and information from across the Metal and Engineering sectors.

Contact us on our social media channels to discuss the podcast, recruitment and our marketing solutions for your business.

https://linktr.ee/comtongroup

Fellow podcaster Adam Bradley of Corrosion Resistant Materials (CRM) joined us this week to talk business. 

Adam is very active on social media, and champions the metals industry, so it was an interesting podcast to record, and he had a lot to say about the sector in this episode of the show.

Having won a host of awards over the last year, it was great to catch up with Adam, to talk about the rapid rise of the business, and how they had recently won the Queen's Award for Enterprise.

CRM are a Sheffield-based stockholder who are a relatively new set-up in the market, having only been founded as a business in 2015.

Although we spoke in detail about social media, we also covered a range of topics affecting the market.

Amongst other things we talk about:

* His early days in the industry, and selling abroad

* Why people stay in the industry for so long

* The appeal of joining a newly formed business

* Using social media, strategies for LinkedIn and having the confidence to post 

* The benefits of using social media for business development

* Building a structure in a business, and work-life balance

* Podcasts, why we started them, and the struggles of getting guests on them

* The Queen's Award for Enterprise and why it is so important for CRM
* Getting the best out of trade associations

* Technical knowledge in the industry 

* Why companies need to talk about social media, and let their staff use it
* Opportunities in the sector

Take a listen and enjoy the podcast.

Visit the CRM website to find out more about the business: http://www.corrosion-resistant-materials.co.uk/

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SEASON TWO of The Metal Guys Talk Business is sponsored by:

The UK Metals Expo - 13th-14th September 2023, NEC Birmingham - ukmetalsexpo.com

Anglo Stainless - Supplier of stainless steel pipes, fittings and flanges - anglostainless.co.uk

Amron Architectural - Specialists in metal meshes and architectural finishes - www.amronarchitectural.co.uk

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The Metal Guys Talk Business is created and produced by Comton Group. Comton Group are a Metal and Engineering Agency supplying Temporary, Permanent and Contract Staff and Media and Marketing services. Comton Group also publish a digital publication 'The Metal Magazine', which features the latest news and information from across the Metal and Engineering sectors.

Contact us on our social media channels to discuss the podcast, recruitment and our marketing solutions for your business.

https://linktr.ee/comtongroup

SteelScout was the digital arm of TATA Steel, and was launched in 2017.

With a big budget and a team of Developers and Steel Specialists, the goals and ambitions were clear. What was not clear was how the market would react to this disruptive player in the UK metal sector.
 
Shortly after recording a podcast with SteelScout in 2021 (S01E07) the business was suddenly closed.

In this episode, Karl Evans rejoined us to talk about the reasons why TATA Steel pulled the plug on the business.

Amongst other things we talk about:

* What was SteelScout

* What were the initial plans

* What did suppliers think about SteelScout, and how did you overcome their objections

* What were the big wins and losses during the 2020 CoVID pandemic

* Did SteelScout meet its goals and when did you think you could return an ROI

* What were the longer term plans, and were you on track

* How did you onboard clients who had never used a digital platform to buy metal

* Creating a digital platform but keeping people within the buying process
* Why SteelScout didn't diversify the range of products earlier

* Why was the business ultimately closed

* What does the future look like for digital steel platforms

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SEASON TWO of The Metal Guys Talk Business is sponsored by:

The UK Metals Expo - 13th-14th September 2023, NEC Birmingham - ukmetalsexpo.com

Anglo Stainless - Supplier of stainless steel pipes, fittings and flanges - anglostainless.co.uk

Amron Architectural - Specialists in metal meshes and architectural finishes - www.amronarchitectural.co.uk

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The Metal Guys Talk Business is created and produced by Comton Group. Comton Group are a Metal and Engineering Agency supplying Temporary, Permanent and Contract Staff and Media and Marketing services. Comton Group also publish a digital publication 'The Metal Magazine', which features the latest news and information from across the Metal and Engineering sectors.

Contact us on our social media channels to discuss the podcast, recruitment and our marketing solutions for your business.

https://linktr.ee/comtongroup