Shufflebottom Welcomes Nia Griffith MP to Cross Hands
Shufflebottom was delighted this week to welcome Nia Griffith, MP for Llanelli, to our main site in Cross Hands, providing an opportunity to showcase the strength of Welsh manufacturing and the vital role structural steelwork plays in supporting the UK economy.
The visit was arranged in partnership with the British Constructional Steelwork Association as part of a UK-wide programme connecting MPs with steelwork fabricators. It gave us the chance to demonstrate first-hand the scale of our operations, the expertise of our team, and the investments we are making to secure long-term growth.
Built in Wales. Supplying the UK.
From our South Wales base, we design, fabricate, paint and erect steel-framed buildings for agricultural, equestrian, industrial and commercial clients across the UK. With a team of around 80 employees, including apprentices and graduates, we fabricate approximately 5,000 tonnes of structural steelwork each year.
While our heritage is firmly rooted in agricultural buildings and steel farm buildings, we continue to expand into sectors including healthcare, education and defence. Our in-house capabilities, from structural engineering and 3D modelling through to manufacture and on-site erection, allow us to deliver a fully integrated service tailored to each client’s requirements.
Our approach is guided by three clear principles: Built to Last, Built for You and Built by Experts. These values underpin every project we undertake and were central to the discussions during the visit.
Investing in Innovation and Productivity
A key focus of the visit was our involvement in the Smart Digital Productivity Accelerator Programme, a major Welsh initiative supporting manufacturing innovation. Through collaboration with academic partners and the adoption of enhanced digital tools and processes, we are targeting significant improvements in productivity and operational efficiency.
We also discussed the broader challenges facing the sector, including rising energy costs for manufacturers and ongoing recruitment pressures. The importance of fair procurement and ensuring that major national projects support British steel and UK fabricators was another important topic of conversation.
Richard Wigley, Commercial & Technical Director at Shufflebottom said: “We were delighted to host Nia and truly appreciated the time she took to meet with our wider team and see our facilities first-hand. It was a great opportunity to discuss our ongoing investments, current processes, and future plans, as well as the work we are doing to drive efficiency and innovation. As a local MP, her interest in manufacturing and the steelwork sector is very encouraging for both our workforce and the wider regional supply chain.”
Ross McAdam, CEO at Embrace Steel Group, said:
“It was an absolute privilege to welcome Nia to Shufflebottom and showcase the strength of Shufflebottom’s operations and the commitment of our team. Under Embrace’s ownership, we were pleased to highlight the significant investments we continue to make, alongside the robust processes we have in place to support quality, productivity, and long-term growth. Engagements like this are invaluable in helping policymakers better understand both the opportunities and challenges facing our sector.”
Championing Welsh Manufacturing
As a family-founded business with strong Welsh roots, we remain committed to investing in our people, our processes and our production facilities. Our fully in-house model ensures we maintain control over quality at every stage, delivering steel-framed buildings and structural steelwork solutions that are robust, reliable and designed for long-term performance.
We were pleased to share with Nia Griffith the opportunities ahead for both Shufflebottom and the wider UK steel sector, and we look forward to continuing to play our part in strengthening manufacturing across Wales and beyond.