Hill & Smith - John Olsen

Hill & Smith, a stalwart of the UK's West Midlands industrial scene, is today a leading provider of sustainable infrastructure products and services to a wide range of sectors in multiple international markets. This short history traces its 200-year journey, starting in 1824 as a family-owned ironworks in the heart of the Black Country, the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. It continues through the highs and lows of the 20th century with two World Wars, a listing on the London Stock Exchange, the stark impact of the UK steel industry's decline, and latterly diversification through a series of acquisitions. Finally, it describes the business's 21st century transformation into a major international group, still based in the West Midlands but employing almost 4,500 people worldwide and valued at close to GBP1.5bn. The book looks at the events that have shaped Hill & Smith's story, the enduring qualities and values that have underpinned its success, and the key people that have made it happen.