William Hare Group

UK based structural steel contractor

William Hare Group Ltd

Company type| Private company[1]
Industry| Construction[2]
Founded| 1888; 137 years ago (1888) in Bolton[3]
Founders|

* William Hare[3]

Headquarters| Brandlesholme, Bury[2]

Key people

* Susan Hodgkiss (CEO, Chair)[4][1][5]
* Hugo Camacho (COO)[5][1]

Products|

* Structural steel[1]
* Steel erection[1]
* Edge barriers[6]
* Cold formed steel[6]
* Hybrid structures[6]

Revenue|  £315.5 million (2023)[7]

Net income

|  £4.3 million (2023)[7]

Number of employees

|  1,947 (2023)[7]
Website| www.hare.com

William Hare Group Ltd is a UK headquartered structural steel contractor and the second largest, by turnover, in the country. It is family owned and has carried out projects in over fifty countries.[8][9][10] Landmark works include structural steelwork for 20 Fenchurch Street[11] and 201 Bishopsgate[12] in London, and the Aldar Headquarters[13] and Al Bahr Towers[13] in Abu Dhabi.

William Hare Group manufactures in the UK and United Arab Emirates.[14]

Aldar Headquarters

## History

[edit]

William Hare started his eponymous enterprise in 1888. It incorporated as William Hare Ltd in 1945, and reorganised as William Hare Group Ltd in 1998.[3][15]

The firm began as a Bolton based steel erector and in 1945 diversified into steel fabrication. During the 1960s and 1970s William Hare Ltd commenced producing fabricated steel for overseas petrochemical projects, in 1977 receiving a Queen's Award for Export.[3]

The present Bury fabrication premises was acquired in 1977 with the purchase of California Engineering Company Ltd. In 1992 the business opened an office in Singapore, followed in 2002 by an engineering support office in Chennai.[3][16]

Grandson of the founder, and Group Chief Executive David Hodgkiss, OBE died in 2020. He was succeeded as Group Chief Executive by his sister Susan Hodgkiss.[4][17][5][18]

### Acquisitions and new businesses

[edit]

1977  | California Engineering Company Ltd including Bury works.[16][3]

|

1997  | Assets of Hawkins Structures Ltd of Scarborough including Dunslow Road facility, from Cecil Hawkins' Canerector Inc.[19][20][21][3]
Westbury Tubular Structures Ltd including premises at Thorp Arch.[3][22][23][24]
2005  | Stake in Fabsec Ltd[3] from Atlas Ward.[25][a]
Controlling interest in Headline Abu Dhabi, later rebranded William Hare UAE LLC.[3][1]
2010  | Assets of Site Coat Services Ltd, and leasehold premises in Grantham.[31][b]
2013  | The intellectual property of Richard Lees Steel Decking Ltd, from Skanska Construction UK Ltd.[3][c]
2014  | Wigan leasehold premises, and plant of Eiffel Steelworks Ltd.[3][d]
2019  | Risca, Newport premises and equipment from Braithwaite Engineering Ltd, a subsidiary of Rowecord Holdings Ltd[42][43]
2021  | Rotherham fabrication facility from Hambleton Steel.[44][45][e]

1. ^ Manufacturing lines were opened at the former Westbury Tubular Structures facility at Thorp Arch, and in the United Arab Emirates, to utilise Fabsec Ltd's cellular beam design software.[26][3] At 31 December 2021, Fabsec Ltd's deficit attributable to shareholders was £959,245.[27] Following the 2024 withdrawal of founding shareholder Tata Steel Ltd, 1⁄3 owned by Wlliam Hare Group. Remainder held by Sherwin-Williams UK Ltd and Severfield.[28][29] As of 2024[update], Fabsec Ltd operates from William Hare's Thorp Arch manufacturing facility[30][28]
2. ^ Becoming William Hare Painting Ltd.[3][31][32][33]
3. ^ Re-established as William Hare Decking Ltd, later renamed Richard Lees Decking Ltd.[3][34][35] Formerly nationalised within the British Steel Corporation;[36] purchased by Trafalgar House[37] and later, Kvaerner.[38] Richard Lees' stock yard business was sold separately to Structural Metal Decks.[39]
4. ^ Former subsidiary of Eiffage Métal / Eiffage.[3][40][41] As of 2025[update], not listed as a William Hare facility.[30]
5. ^ Formerly Allott Bros. & Leigh, then Europa Engineering[45][46][47]

Al Bahr Towers under construction

## Locations

[edit]

William Hare Group has steel fabrication facilities at Bury, Scarborough, Newport, Rotherham, Thorp Arch and in the United Arab Emirates. Coatings are applied at a Grantham site. The Derby plant manufactures cold-formed steel components and engineered timber / hybrid structures.[48][30][1][44]

The Group operates sales and engineering support offices in London, Chennai, Singapore, Seoul and Porto.[30]

A majority of the firm's staff are employed at overseas subsidiaries and branches.[7]

20 Fenchurch Street, London (2015)

## Controversies

[edit]

### Unfair dismissal

[edit]

In a 2010 judgement, William Hare was found to have unfairly dismissed an employee. Judge Brain, however, reduced the financial award by 1⁄3 to take account of the employee's conduct before dismissal.[49]

201 Bishopsgate

### Trinity Walk

[edit]

In 2008, Shepherd Construction contracted with William Hare Group to provide structural steelwork for[50] Brendan Flood's[51] Trinity Walk shopping centre development in Wakefield. Shepherd Construction subsequently sought, under a pay when paid clause, to withhold payment in the sum of £996,683.35. The ultimate client had gone into Administration. In 2009, Mr Justice Coulson of the Technology and Construction Court ruled against the payment being withheld.[50] That judgement was upheld at the Court of Appeal in 2010. Shepherd Construction had used an obsolete form of words defining insolvency in its contract with William Hare Group.[52]

### Fatal fall

[edit]

The Health and Safety Executive fined William Hare Group £75,000 plus £9,000 costs in 2003. An employee fell and died during 1998 extension works to the Imperial War Museum in London. William Hare Group pleaded guilty to a breach of section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The firm was criticised for its vague method statement, and for leaving workers to decide basic safety precautions. The unharnessed victim fell 13m from a precarious platform.[53][54]

## See also

[edit]

* British Constructional Steelwork Association
* Cleveland Bridge & Engineering Company
* Severfield
* Rowecord Engineering

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g "William Hare Group Ltd Accounts 2020". Companies House. Archived from the original on 10 May 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
2. ^ a b "Willian Hare Group Ltd - overview". Companies House. Archived from the original on 10 May 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Group History". William Hare. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
4. ^ a b "Steel sector mourns William Hare CEO". New Steel Construction. 8 April 2020. Archived from the original on 10 September 2020. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
5. ^ a b c "News". William Hare. Archived from the original on 10 May 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
6. ^ a b c "Cellshield". William Hare. Archived from the original on 19 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
7. ^ a b c d William Hare Group Ltd and Subsidiaries Financial Statements 2023 (Report). William Hare – via Companies House.
8. ^ "About Us". William Hare. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
9. ^ "Hare grows in Newport". Construction Index. Archived from the original on 19 June 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
10. ^ Price, David (17 November 2021). "The UK's top 10 steel contractors". Construction News. Archived from the original on 10 January 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
11. ^ Prior, Grant. "William Hare installs one floor a week at Walkie Talkie". Construction Enquirer. Archived from the original on 29 June 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
12. ^ "William Hare Projects". Emporis. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
13. ^ a b "Commercial". William Hare. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
14. ^ "Contact Us". William Hare - Office Locations. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
15. ^ "William Hare Ltd - overview". Companies House. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
16. ^ a b "California Engineering Company Ltd - Overview". Companies House. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
17. ^ Price, David (31 March 2020). "William Hare boss dies after contracting coronavirus". Construction News. Archived from the original on 21 May 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
18. ^ "Hodgkiss dies after contracting coronavirus". BBC Sport. 30 March 2020. Archived from the original on 30 March 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
19. ^ "Sundry mortgage documents Hawkins Structures Ltd". Companies House. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
20. ^ "Hawkins Structures Ltd 1996 accounts". Companies House. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
21. ^ "Hawkins Structure Ltd - Overview". Companies House. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
22. ^ "Our Team - Gradual Peak". Gradual Peak. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
23. ^ "Westbury Tubular Steel Ltd sundry mortgage papers". Companies House. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
24. ^ "Hawkins Structures Ltd account 2007". Google Docs. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
25. ^ Fabsec Ltd - Annual Return 2003 (Report). Companies House.
26. ^ "2022 Confirmation Statement for Fabsec Ltd". Companies House. Archived from the original on 8 May 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
27. ^ Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2021 for Fabsec Ltd (Report). Fabsec Ltd. 2021 – via Companies House.
28. ^ a b Fabsec Ltd, return of purchase of own shares (Report). Companies House. 17 April 2024.
29. ^ "2022 Confirmation Statement for Fabsec Ltd". Companies House. 5 April 2022. Archived from the original on 8 May 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
30. ^ a b c d "Contact". William Hare Group. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
31. ^ a b "William Hare Painting Ltd - Overview". Companies House. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
32. ^ "Site Coat Services Limited". Construction Index. Archived from the original on 11 August 2020. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
33. ^ "Statement of Administrators Proposals - Site Coat Services Ltd". Companies House. 4 April 2011. Archived from the original on 21 May 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
34. ^ "Richard Lees Decking Ltf - Overview". Companies House. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
35. ^ Cross, Luke (30 August 2012). "Skanska to close down Richard Lees Steel Decking". Construction News. Archived from the original on 4 June 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
36. ^ "Iron and Steel Act, 1967" (PDF). The London Gazette. 28 July 1967. p. 8377.
37. ^ Richard Lees Ltd - Directors' report and accounts for the year ended 3rd April 1982 (Report). Companies House.
38. ^ Richard Lees Decking Ltd - Report and Accounts 31 December 2000 (Report). Companies House. p. 2.
39. ^ "Company History". Structural Metal Decking. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
40. ^ "Eiffel Steelworks Ltd - Overview". Companies House. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
41. ^ "Our story". Eiffage Métal. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
42. ^ "Rowecord Holdings Ltd 2019 accounts". Companies House. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
43. ^ "William Hare Group Waste and Utility Report 2019" (PDF). William Hare. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
44. ^ a b "History". William Hare. Archived from the original on 27 September 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
45. ^ a b Satisfaction of Charge (Report). Hambleton Steel (South) Ltd. 23 November 2021 – via Companies House.
46. ^ "Hambleton Steel South". Hambleton Steel. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
47. ^ "History". Hambleton Steel. Archived from the original on 13 September 2024. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
48. ^ "William Hare Painting Ltd » BCSA". British Constructional Steelwork Association. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
49. ^ "Judgement" (PDF). Bailii. 4 June 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 June 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
50. ^ a b "William Hare Ltd v Shepherd Construction Ltd [2009] EWHC 1603 (TCC) (25 June 2009)". Bailii. Archived from the original on 4 June 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
51. ^ Kollewe, Julia (11 January 2011). "Trafford Centre battle ends in Peel Group victory". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
52. ^ "William Hare Ltd v Shepherd Construction Ltd [2010] EWCA Civ 283 (18 March 2010)". British and Irish Legal Information Institute. Archived from the original on 4 June 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
53. ^ "HSE fines steel firm £75,000 for site death". Building. 16 May 2003. Archived from the original on 4 June 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
54. ^ Spicer, Robert (2 September 2003). "Devil's in the (lack) of detail". Building. Archived from the original on 2 June 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Fabsec Ltd joint venture

53°36′49″N 2°19′02″W﻿ / ﻿53.61373°N 2.31712°W﻿ / 53.61373; -2.31712