The Metal Guys Talk Business

Episode Summary:

In Episode 4 of Season 4, we sit down with Paul Whitehouse, Managing Director at Steel & Alloy, part of Gonvarri Industries, to unpack the biggest trade and supply chain pressures currently facing the UK steel sector.

Steel & Alloy is one of the UK’s leading steel service centres supplying the automotive industry, and Paul brings a sharp, honest view of how businesses are reacting to tariffs, trade restrictions, and market volatility.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone operating in metals, manufacturing, automotive supply, or logistics.
We explore:
  • How recent quota changes are disrupting supply chains
  • The unintended consequences of the UK's trade policy
  • What stockholding risk looks like in today’s market
  • Whether service centres can plan long-term under current systems
  • What Paul would say to UK policymakers
 “We saw this coming. The issue was, no one wanted to deal with it.”
 “We’re not just competing on price — we’re competing on certainty.”
 “Our customers don’t care about quotas. They just need their steel.”

Key Topics:
  • Tariffs, quotas, and the problem with residuals
  • Stockholding risks in volatile trading environments
  • Brexit, steel safeguards, and policy blind spots
  • The reality of automotive supply chain pressures
  • Why stable leadership matters in uncertain times
  • Steel & Alloy’s role inside Gonvarri Industries
  • Real-world views from the commercial front line
  • What’s needed to futureproof UK steel supply


🧷 Episode Quote:
"This isn’t just about steel. It’s about the systems that decide who gets to compete." – Paul Whitehouse

🔗 Sponsors:

SteelBuy is a digital marketplace built for the metals industry, helping buyers and sellers connect with speed, transparency, and simplicity.

NERO Pipeline Connections is a trusted UK stockholder of stainless steel valves, fittings, and pipeline products, supporting industries from process to precision.

Comton Group Ltd. is a specialist recruiter for the metal, engineering, and manufacturing sectors, helping businesses hire the right people from shop floor to senior leadership.

🎙️ About The Metal Guys Talk Business:
Hosted by Peter Comerford and Mike Bolton, The Metal Guys Talk Business is the go-to podcast for professionals in the metals, engineering, and manufacturing sectors. Each episode explores the challenges, changes, and big ideas shaping the industry from the shop floor to the boardroom.

🤝 Connect with the Hosts and Guest:
Peter Comerford – Connect on LinkedIn
Mike Bolton – Connect on LinkedIn
Paul Whitehouse – Connect on LinkedIn

Creators and Guests

Host
Mike Bolton
Co-founder of Comton Group
Host
Peter Comerford
Co-founder of Comton Group

What is The Metal Guys Talk Business?

Peter Comerford and Mike Bolton are The Metal Guys! They have worked in the metal sector for over 10 years, a huge global industry that produces more than a billion tonnes of material annually and affects all other industries and walks of life.

They now run a successful recruitment and marketing company servicing the metal and engineering sectors, making them ideally placed to provide impartial, independent insight into the industry, sitting outside the hierarchy of the various stages of the industry from raw material to finished product.

Under the moniker of The Metal Guys, the pair continue to gain insights from - and ask the difficult questions to - the decision makers and technical experts that you won't hear on any other podcast.

If you produce, work with or supply metal, then tune in and join the conversation.