Emma Parkinson, CEO of International Energy Products, is the owner and founder of several consortium businesses operating in the manufacturing sector.
She is the majority shareholder of International Energy Products, which is a supplier of specialist alloys to a variety of different industries. The company serves many sectors including energy, renewables, defence, marine and automotive. International Energy Products specialises in the production and manufacturing of nickel alloys, stainless and low alloy products.
Emma is also majority shareholder in other businesses within the consortium but works alongside specialist partners within each of those. Within the group of other companies, it also offers precision machining, MDT, non-destructive testing and additive manufacturing.
As well as a woman in the world of steel, Emma can also list many accolades to her name for her work as a woman within the sector and as an entrepreneur. The Manufacturer sat down with her to find out more.
As a woman leading a company in a traditionally male dominated steel industry, what challenges have you faced and how have you overcome them?
EP: Typically, the steel industry is old fashioned and can be quite eye-opening. I believe that resilience is a great tool to have. I always try and rise above any of the ‘old behaviors’ that I come across.
My advice to other women within the industry would be to do just that. Keep pushing on, striving for your own personal goals and the way to achieve change in this market.
As a recipient of the 2021 NatWest Everywoman Awards and being named in the 2024 Telegraph & NatWest 100 Female Entrepreneurs to Watch, how does it feel to be recognised?
The accolades have been great for my personal brand and with raising awareness within the industry for women. It shows that it is possible for other women to achieve similar things through a route like mine. Ultimately, it’s raised my profile globally and allowed me to encourage other females to do the same.
As a female leader, I’m proud of what I’ve built so far. The message is to inspire not just other females, but young entrepreneurs, to look at this sector as an opportunity for them.
What advice would you give to aspiring female entrepreneurs who are looking to enter and succeed in heavy industries like steel manufacturing?
Be fearless and get stuck in. Don’t be scared of the environment because that can be quite daunting. Heavy industry is still a dirty world and you must be willing to learn, without letting the environment faze you.
International Energy Products has secured a remarkable position on The Sunday Times 100 table. Can you share the key strategies that contributed to this success despite the challenging business environment?
Customer service is at the heart of everything we do. Across this sector, customer service can be quite poor, so it didn’t make it particularly hard to be good or better than others.
We are going to continue to do that and remain close to our customers while building strong genuine relationships with them. From the very early stages of establishment, I stood by the fact that the business is a solution provider, and we’re here to help. We don’t work on the basis of merely stocking a product which the customer will buy. We are focused on what our customers need on any given day, and we must be willing to jump through hoops and bend over backwards to accommodate them.
I was trained in some old-fashioned principles and ‘customer is king’ has always been one standout phrase for me. This has remained throughout all of International Energy Products trade; you must meet the customers’ needs, as well as your own.
Your company was only established in 2017 and has already achieved significant growth. To what do you attribute this rapid success?
The people we employ have been fundamental to our growth. They drive the key principles of customer service and forming relationships with our customers. I believe in recruiting highly skilled individuals and if we are unable to take them on at the skilled stage, we are advocates of training and development. International Energy Products strives to constantly upskill its workforce and that gives us an advantage in the marketplace.
International Energy Products prides itself on having highly skilled and trained employees. How do you find them? And what advice can you give to the industry struggling with this issue?
Thankfully I am an ex-recruiter by trade and spotting great talent comes a bit more naturally to me than others.
At International Energy Products, we stand out in the industry in terms of doing things differently. We have a fresh approach to recruitment which gains a lot of interest, so we do have a lot of applications to go through for each position.
I know that is not the case for all manufacturers out there, but looking at what the younger generation want from a workplace is good place to start. As well as offering benefits with the positions and generally thinking outside of the box about what can make a good workplace.
The steel industry is crucial to the UK economy. How does International Energy Products contribute to this sector, and what sets your company apart from its competitors?
We are committed to keeping our footprint here in the UK and having a physical presence is key to retaining skills and knowledge in our market. Personally, I am part of Master Cutler, which is a Sheffield-based entity that encourages and provides support for anybody operating in the steel sector. It shouts proudly about Sheffield’s capabilities and has a globally recognised reputation.
We are here to be an advocate, and grow the business, recruiting further employees and having a voice in the market.
Given the current rise in energy prices and geopolitical instability, including what’s currently happening in Port Talbot, how has International Energy Products managed to navigate these challenges and still maintain impressive growth?
It is all about strategy and constantly looking for what could catch you out in the business. Companies must think ahead.
None of us could have predicted COVID but it’s about having strategies in place to manage a crisis wherever possible. Part of our job is problem solving on a daily basis, and we must keep up that tenacity. If you can do that, then you’ll continue to thrive regardless of the economic outcome.
Sustainability is a growing concern in manufacturing. How is International Energy Products addressing environmental issues, particularly regarding CO2 emissions and local supply chains?
Our energy consumption as a manufacturer, is relatively low. We are also putting in place carbon neutral efficiencies to help bring those costs down. We are also seeing more interest from our customers in terms of taking greener or carbon neutral quotations.
At International Energy Products we offer two quotations to the market; one being our standard, non-carbon neutral option and the second option, which is carbon neutral. The carbon neutral options offer full traceability and accountability for any carbon emissions that are a part of that process.
Typically, the carbon neutral option is a little bit more expensive. But we’re hoping to see a greater uptake for the greener option as the market continues to transition.
Looking ahead, what are your long-term goals for International Energy Products, and how do you plan to sustain the company’s growth and success?
We have a significant forecast for the next 12 months, which is more than double what we produced last year. We are also looking to move into new territories and we’re recruiting additional staff to accommodate some of those markets. We are now introducing new product lines which will increase our market share in those sectors as well.
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