Howco has been a proud ‘Made In Sheffield’ licence holder since the end of 2023, but we’ve recently discovered that our connection with this world-recognisable designation actually runs much deeper.
If you’ve dealt with our Sheffield office, you may have spoken with Carla Greaves, who is one of our Key Account Managers dealing with the metal distribution side of the company. Carla’s Father, Dr Mike Lowden, was instrumental in setting up the Made in Sheffield licence program at the dawn of the new millennium. Now 76, he is a font of knowledge on all things Sheffield and a passionate advocate for the strong producer heritage that our city holds.
“Sheffield has a long and proud history as a producer city,” he explains. “As far back as 1297 the city became famous for products with a cutting edge, the original definition of the word cutlery. By 1624, the date of the original Act establishing the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire, there was a thriving industry producing cutlery (knives), edge tools (such as wood chisels) and agricultural implements (e.g. scythes and sickles). Most of these were produced for markets outside the immediate vicinity. Thus began Sheffield’s reputation for quality products supplied to worldwide markets.”
In more recent years, the city’s manufacturers found that other producers were trying to capitalise on the prestige and quality mark associated with items made in the South Yorkshire city. This often resulted in inferior products being sold which traded on the Sheffield name.
Recognising Sheffield’s value on the world stage
“As the city entered the 20th century, the city leaders recognised the value of the words ‘Made in Sheffield’, and the likelihood that other parts of the world would seek to emulate Sheffield’s success by misusing the word Sheffield. Therefore, in the early 1900’s, the Sheffield Defence Committee was formed, possibly the first partnership organisation in the city comprising the Cutlers Company, the Chamber of Commerce and the City Council,” Dr Lowden adds.
“This partnership is defined as ‘Members’ of Made in Sheffield and remains to this day but now with the inclusion of Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber of Commerce. This Members committee was charged with defending the good name of Sheffield throughout the world. In many countries the word Sheffield was registered as a trademark, to ensure that it could not be usurped.
“Back in the early 2,000’s however it was apparent that a fairly significant number of companies, particularly those in the Far East and North America were branding their products and packaging with the word ‘Sheffield’ in order to take advantage of the name. Generally, these imports replicated those made by local, long-established companies but were of inferior quality and at prices that significantly undercut those of the indigenous manufacturers.”
Of course, Sheffield’s hardworking industry leaders had to fight back and take steps to protect their local designation. In addition to the registering of trademarks around the world, it was apparent that city leaders would need to go further to safeguard the local economy and prevent poor quality products from overseas cashing in on Sheffield’s reputation.
The early days of ‘Made in Sheffield’
Dr Lowden was instrumental in this movement, and played a key part in the formation of the Made in Sheffield program that Howco is a member of today.
“I was working at the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce as Manager of the Manufacturers Group. This Group was made up of a whole array of companies many of which are recipients of the ‘Made in Sheffield’ mark today. I and other colleagues from the Chamber of Commerce, together with several owners of manufacturing companies that were being impacted by these imported products, decided to see if we could come up with something to counter them.
“It was decided that we should develop something that was readily discernible and that would incorporate the proud history of the city name which was already recognised worldwide for the production of quality products.
“We asked an organisation called Creative Sheffield to task a number of design agencies to come up with a logo that would associate manufacturing/production processes with the city. It was no surprise to us that steel formed part of several of the suggestions. The chosen logo clearly incorporates the city’s name and the ‘colour’ of steel.
“This initiative was intended to encourage locally based companies in the manufacturing/producer sector to utilise the undoubted strengths of the “Sheffield” brand and in so doing building on the past for the benefit not only of the present generation of Sheffield businesses, but also Sheffield companies of the future.
“I organised and presented at meetings and seminars to the Members of the Manufacturing Group to promote the concept of the accreditation and what was expected from them to achieve it.”
The present day
The ‘Made In Sheffield’ program has expanded considerably since its launch back in April 2005. In addition to Howco, around 400 other local businesses have been awarded the mark since its inception.
“A great deal has changed, but today Sheffield remains at the forefront internationally in metals and metal products and in materials related technology,” Dr Lowden adds. “It is home to many companies which are probably better known internationally than they are in Sheffield, world class in their own fields.”
Carla has carried on her Dad’s close association with the city’s manufacturing business in her role as Key Account Manager here at Howco. We’re proud to fly the flag for the city of Sheffield and will continue to embody the innovation, quality and technological excellence in metals and metal products that is so closely intwined with our city.
