Mark Dorrington, Business Development Director at Harrison & Clough, brings over two decades of experience in commercial strategy and supply chain leadership. After initially spending nine years at the company in a range of roles - from overseeing major brands to leading purchasing - Mark returned to Harrison & Clough in 2022 to help steer the business through a period of ambitious growth. With almost ten years at Sika Everbuild in between, his knowledge of the sector is extensive and deeply rooted.

Industry Trends and Challenges

What do you see as the most significant trends currently shaping the manufacturing and engineering industries?

“For us, looking at the fasteners industry, the main trends are two-fold,” says Mark. “Firstly, the drive for low-cost items, which I would advise caution on, as shortcuts don’t guarantee quality. Standards are ever evolving and we understand the need to ensure we supply products that always meet the highest standards and the ever-changing demands of the market. Secondly, there’s a demand for modernised coatings of fasteners, for example with zinc flake. These products are longer lasting without the costs associated with stainless steel and have use across multiple industries.”

What are the biggest challenges your company is facing right now, and how are you addressing them?

“Without question, the biggest challenges are increased legislation and tariffs. These are presenting significant tests, and to address them we have to be at the forefront of changes and potential impacts they may make. Being expert on the issues means we can plan ahead, build stocks of the right products, and reassure our customers that we are in complete control of the situation.”

Innovation and Technology

How is your company leveraging new technologies like automation, AI, or IoT to stay competitive?

“IT is fundamental to everything we do at Harrison & Clough,” says Mark. “We’re engaging with new methods including AI and warehouse automation. We utilise Microsoft Business Central and its associated programmes, and we are undergoing a significant location move to a new premises in Sheffield which uses the latest Autostore technology.”

Can you share an example of a recent innovation at your company and its impact on your operations?

“The most significant development for Harrison & Clough at this time will be the move to the new facility, which will be in Q3 of this year. The Autostore technology will provide vast improvements in efficiency, better storage, faster turnaround times and reduce the associated distribution costs. I’m really excited by what the move will do to push us to the next level.”

Sustainability and Environmental Impact

What steps is your company taking to reduce its environmental footprint and improve sustainability?

“We employ an in-house sustainability officer to ensure that we follow best practice across all aspects of our operations,” Mark explains. “The biggest day-to-day impacts revolve around innovations and improvements to product packaging, but we also seek to find more sustainable methods of introducing significant cuts to our carbon footprint via our distribution networks.”

How do you see sustainability influencing the future of manufacturing and engineering?

“Sustainability is a key theme for the vast majority of businesses in our sector and across the UK, though internationally there are varying levels of commitment to it. Sustainability will continue to be at the forefront of how we operate and will be a priority across the manufacturing and engineering sectors, but there will be a need to be adaptable and innovative if and when commercial pressure means the costs associated with it come under scrutiny.”

Workforce Development and Skills

What skills do you believe are most critical for the future workforce in manufacturing and engineering?

“I think that the standout skill will be being able to engage with and analyse complex data, in order to drive sales. There is clearly so much data out there, but having the skillset to be efficient and understand the business on a micro and macro level will be key. Our team are so engaged with this on a daily basis that we’re lucky we are in a good place to develop in-house learning that will ensure we’re well placed moving forwards.”

How is your company investing in workforce development and training?

“There are two constantly evolving aspects of our business - technology, and our product range. We pride ourselves on the range of products we can offer, but we have to have the right expertise to source, sell and support this, so the team are forever developing highly technical knowledge on this. Secondly, being driven by IT and technology, and being at the forefront of these changes means our in-house training and development never stops.”

Globalisation and Supply Chain Management

How has globalisation affected your business, and how do you manage risks associated with global supply chains?

“Harrison & Clough is a huge importer to the UK, so supply chains, the international freight system and global price movements all have a big impact on our business. Obviously globalisation has brought us amazing opportunities for sourcing, building relationships and doing deals - widening our range, appealing to more customers and building a profitable business over the last 100 years.”

What strategies are you employing to ensure resilience and flexibility in your supply chain?

“It has been a big challenge and there are well known geopolitical challenges over the last 12 or 18 months that we have tackled. We have very strong relationships with our suppliers and customer base, we are experts at planning stock levels and service requirements, and we have also utilised other sources of supply as back-up to ensure we keep a consistent and leading level of product availability and service to meet demand.”

Leadership and Business Strategy

How do you maintain a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within your organisation?

“We have a culture of perpetual development. We have monthly meetings to review performance, and at our core seek to continually improve our range, our service standards and our working practices at all levels. Harrison & Clough is fortunate to enjoy excellent rates of staff retention, which demonstrates that the company and our team feel there is a good environment for mutually beneficial development, which keeps us innovating and moving forward.”

What is your vision for the future of your company, and how do you plan to achieve it?

“That’s a big question! To put it simply, we want to be the leader in the UK’s fasteners industry. We want to be our customers’ answer for everything, we want to be their warehouse, we strive to expand our range and our service to meet and exceed the expectations our customers have. By being customer-led and product-focused, and understanding so intricately the needs of our customers, I’m confident that we can reach this goal.”