As 2025 comes to a close, I’ve taken a moment to look back — not just on the last twelve months, but on what has been one of the most transformative years in Robert Lickley Refractories’ 55-year history.
This year has felt like five years of change condensed into one. It’s been a year of transition, of challenge, and of immense opportunity — a year that has truly marked the “changing of the guard” for our business.
When my father founded this company over half a century ago, he built it on three things: craftsmanship, integrity, and a commitment to doing things the right way. Those same values remain at the heart of everything we do. But 2025 has been about taking that legacy and equipping it for the next decade — modernising our systems, investing in new technology, and empowering our leadership, new and old, to innovate and take the lead.
This has been a year defined by investment — not just in our plant and equipment, but in our people and our future. A key milestone came in Q3 with the appointment of our first dedicated QHSE Manager, consolidating quality, safety, health and environmental leadership under one role and strengthening the governance that underpins everything we do. Alongside this, we’ve welcomed new leadership and talent across the business and established a culture of innovation that’s already delivering results.
From our innovation lab and expanded research capabilities, to major upgrades in digital infrastructure, IT systems and environmental performance, we’ve positioned ourselves for long-term growth and resilience.
It’s also been a year of learning. Change at this pace comes with challenges, and there’s no denying the scale of what we’ve taken on. But I’m immensely proud of how the team has risen to every one of them. The commitment, adaptability and shared belief in what this company stands for have been nothing short of inspiring.
2025 has shown me that our strength lies not just in our refractory products, but in the people who make them — the engineers, designers, technicians and support teams who live and breathe our values every day. We end the year having already embedded structured mentoring, comprehensive training programmes, and enhanced occupational health surveillance across the business. These are not initiatives on a roadmap — they are in place, working, and forming the foundation of our journey towards ISO 45001 compliance.
Together, we’ve built the foundation for a new chapter.
And what comes next will be even more defining.
Over the coming months, we will continue to commission new core manufacturing assets, complete our innovation lab, bring our ERP platform fully into daily use, and enhance our bulk manufacturing capability. These investments strengthen how we design, validate and deliver refractory solutions for our customers.
Our digital systems will increasingly support data-driven manufacturing and process visibility, while our on-site laboratory expands our ability to test, validate and refine materials in-house. Alongside this, we remain on track to achieve ISO 14001 certification, reinforcing our long-term commitment to responsible and sustainable manufacturing.
A new on-site solar installation will power a growing proportion of our operations, marking a meaningful step towards a lower-carbon future.
We have also forged new key strategic alliances — both in the UK and internationally — strengthening our technical capability, extending our reach, and opening new pathways for innovation and growth. These partnerships already place us in a stronger position as we move into the next phase of our development.
To support this next stage, we will further strengthen our leadership with the appointment of a Head of Products and Markets in early 2026. This role will be central to aligning product strategy, innovation and market development as we continue to build momentum.
The next chapter isn’t about keeping pace — it’s about setting the pace.
Manufacturing is alive and kicking in the Midlands — and across the UK — and we are proud to be part of its resurgence. To our customers and partners, expect nothing less than a 21st-century take on the old-fashioned values that have carried us this far: quality, reliability and integrity in everything we do.
Here’s to 55 years of craftsmanship and commitment — and to the next decade of growth, innovation and collaboration that lies ahead.
