Historic manufacturing firm founded during the industrial revolution celebrates 225 years in business

Westley Group, Europe's largest non-ferrous foundry and engineering group, is believed to be the oldest business in Dudley to have traded continuously since the industrial revolution.

The company was established by William Westley at Queens Cross in Dudley in 1800 before moving in 1955 to Cradley Heath where its HQ remains today - with an eighth generation member of the Westley family now at the helm.

The business, headquartered in Doulton Road, is a bronze metal casting business which supplies the defence industry primarily but it also has successful subsidiary companies including Westley Plastics and RunFlat International, both in Cradley Heath.

Tom Westley, director of Westley Group, said: “We believe it’s the oldest business in Dudley, and it’s still in the same family ownership.”

The 32-year-old said the secret to the business's continuing success is being adaptable to changing markets - adding: “It’s had to adapt and evolve over 225 years to continue making relevant products, what we make now is nothing to do with what we started out making, when we started making stuff for the steel industry locally, we're now in the defence industry making parts that go all over the world, it’s a very different business from what it was.

"We have a big spread within the group of different products so we’re not reliant on one industry or one particular area, which means we’re able to weather the storms in the industry when the oil and gas price changes or defence is in vogue or not in vogue - we’re able to position the business."

He added: “Fundamentally bronze is very good at certain applications and that hasn't changed since the bronze age. In environments where you need stuff that doesn’t rust and that lasts a long time bronze is still a very good product."

Company chairman Tom Westley, aged 73, has been involved in the family business since the 1970s, and still enjoys being involved with the firm.

He said the business has acquired a number of other companies making bronze castings over the years - a collection of about 40 other foundry businesses across the UK since the 1980s - to create what has become Europe's largest non ferrous foundry group, and he said of the big anniversary: “I’m obviously proud but also lucky because it’s the relevance of our products. With the geo-political mess, construction of warships and submarines, we’ve never been so busy.”

To celebrate a garden party with stalls, a tug of war, crocket, garden games and refreshments was held on Wednesday September 3 at Wedgewood Cricket Club in Stoke-on-Trent bringing together the company's 350 employees from its sites in Cradley Heath, Stoke on Trent and Cleckheaton in Leeds.

The summer fate style event was to mark the momentous occasion and thank loyal staff including 31 staff members with more than 20 years' service, 30 employees with more than 30 years' with the group, 20 people with more than 40 years' service and one employee who, like Mr Westley Snr, has worked for Westley Group for more than 50 years.

Tom Westley Jnr said: "It was a fantastic day, despite the weather, and was a great opportunity to get everyone together and celebrate a significant milestone within the company history."

Westley Group also comprises Westley Plastics, in Gawne Lane, which was set up in 1964 to develop polymer technologies to replace heavier, more expensive and less wear-resistant metal products and then RunFlat, based on the Waterfall Lane Trading Estate, was established in 2001, using the leading edge polymer technology of Westley Plastics to exclusively develop run-flat tyre insert systems.

RunFlat, a leading producer of run flat tyre technology which helps to keep military personnel and dignitaries safe around the world by enabling vehicles to keep going if a tyre is deflated, was awarded the prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise in the international trade category in May for having played a key role in the Government's mission for economic growth. The accolade is the highest official UK award for British businesses.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s announcement in in June that the UK would increase its spending on defence has been welcome news for the Westley Group which has taken on an extra 10 staff this year.

The company is also very proud of its apprenticeship schemes and currently employs 32 apprentices.

Tom Westley Jnr said: "It’s an old industry and it’s a set of skills you can’t really learn in college, it’s got to be taught by doing so we actively recruit and train apprentices from everything from casting through to machining - all processes of the business really. We do have quite a strong apprentice programme."

The firm is also proud of its green credentials.

Mr Westley Snr said: "Since the late 1970s we've used electricity, electric induction furnaces, so we’ve actually been quite green for quite a long time."

Director Tom added: "What we’re making is a fundamentally infinitely recyclable product. We melt anything we scrap, we re-melt and use again, and we buy a lot of scrap products.”

As well as celebrating the past and the firm's history, both say they are excited about the future.

Mr Westley Snr said: "“We’re going to keep on keeping on, making profits while we’re doing so.”

Son Tom added: “We’re more excited about the future than we’ve ever been. There’s more opportunity out there than we've seen in a very long time and our plan is to take advantage of the situation and grow the business and develop it and ensure we're doing it in a sustainable way so we can be here in another 225 years.”