Innovative advanced engineering group Alderley has celebrated its 25th anniversary with a concert and picnic for staff and supporters in the gardens of founder and chairman Tony Shepherd’s home.
Mr Shepherd, a fervant supporter of UK manufacturing, formed the business in 1989 with a single workshop and Portacabins offices in Wickwar, near Wotton-under-Edge. At the same time its iconic Kingfisher logo was hatched. 
The first 18 months’ turnover was just £5.5m but it has since grown to become a highly-respected supplier to the global oil, gas and petrochemical industries. Today it has seven bases worldwide including in the UAE, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Singapore and boasts an annual turnover of around £75m.
From the beginning, the firm’s strength lay in its ability to tackle the challenges of the emergent offshore oil industry in the North Sea and it rapidly become a leader in the field of metering.
Having developed equipment and attained the engineering knowledge to cope with the North Sea oilfield’s severe operating conditions, Alderley quickly replicated its success in overseas markets.
Its product portfolio now extends beyond metering to include hydraulic, pneumatic and electrical control systems as well as water treatment equipment. Its systems are now used in processing, treatment and control of hydrocarbon products across the world.
The company has been owned by the Shepherd family since day one and as well as Mr Shepherd, his wife Diana, son Simon and daughters Lucinda, Nicola and Philippa have all been involved in the business.
Mr Shepherd is a staunch supporter of privately-owned businesses, especially those in the advanced manufacturing sector. Speaking to guests and staff at the anniversary party, he said he wished the UK could encourage a thriving mid-tier of family-owned manufacturers similar to Germany’s Mittelstadt, which is often viewed as the secret behind that country’s economic and industrial strength.
Unfortunately, he said, the UK was dominated by the type of short-termism encouraged by the City and publically-quoted companies.
He added: “It is interesting to reflect on the growth and development of Alderley over the past 25 years. Engineering skill and technical excellence are what set us apart and have underpinned our strength of offering and company growth.
“Naturally the success has not been without its challenges especially in the export market, but by actively working with ECGD (now UK Export Finance) to remove the factors that constrain the ability of UK businesses to be competitive in the export market, it has facilitated in Alderley’s success in its export endeavours.”
Alderley, one of the top 25 companies in Gloucestershire, has supplied more than 750 systems to 50-plus countries since its launch. It still operates from an extended head office in Wickwar.
The 25th anniversary concert featured the Bristol Ensemble conducted by Benedict Hoffnung with soprano Susanna Fairbairn.
