Female steel firm founder named in New Year Honours

A woman who became one of the UK's few senior women in the steel industry after founding a firm from her dining room table is among those recognised in the New Year Honours list.

Jackie Neal, who lives in Bakewell, Derbyshire founded stainless steel firm Abbey Forged Products in the 1970s and now employs over 200 staff.

The 75-year-old has been appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).

The firm is one of Europe's leading metal forging and stainless steel suppliers and contributes to critical UK security projects in areas such as nuclear aerospace and submarines.

Ms Neal is also being recognised as a significant philanthropist, donating over £200,000 to Sheffield Children's Hospital, St Luke's Hospice and supporting several other children's charities and projects.

The Sheffield-born businesswoman said she was "shocked" and "embarassed" when she received the news via letter.

"I thought, 'Is this a joke? Where has this come from?'," she told the BBC. "I never dreamt I would finish up in this situation."

The mother-of-two began in the steel industry working as a secretary for a stainless steel stockholder before moving into forging sales.

"Then all these [steel firms] went bust...and I thought, I've got to be able to do better than this," she said.

After completing her business studies degree, she set up her own firm from her lounge where she lived on a street named Abbey Lane - hence the 'Abbey' in the firm's name.

"Eventually we got premises sufficient to carry out all the process that I'd previously subbed out to other processers, and we've got them now on our own site, so it's a complete product," she said.

The firm has now been operating for more than 40 years and Ms Neal still goes into the office at the site in Sheffield daily.

As one of the few senior women in the male dominated steel industry, she said there were moments where she faced difficulties in the early days of the business - but earned respect with her success.

"[The bank] wouldn't give me a loan...bear in mind, you're dealing in thousands from day one because it's an expensive product. Anyway, we managed. A friend leant me £3,000 which I paid back within two or three months," she said.

"If the situation continues to go well, nobody can deny that can they? You've got to respect that. During my time in the industry a lot of people went to the wall, started at a similar time - all male. So I think there's an acceptance from that."

She said she was heartened to see more women in the industry now - though she has yet to employ a female forger - a skill that takes a lot of strength.

Asked what could lie behind her success at a time when other male-owned company were going bust when she started the firm, she said many had not been not careful enough when their businesses were experiencing good times.

"The ego overtakes when [men] are doing alright," she said.

"If you haven't got yourself into debt, you haven't got a problem...and that's the thing that brings people down."

Honours have also been given to people in Derbyshire for their contributions to society.

They include Elizabeth Woodworth, who has been awared the British Empire Medal for dedicating decades of her career to her expertise in smoking cessation services.

It is estimated that she has supported over 35,000 people to successfully quit smoking during her time at the smoking cessation clinic A Better Life in Wirral.

Gillian Anne Marriot, the choir master of Long Eaton United Reformed Church Choir, has also been awared the British Empire Medal for services to the Church and to the community in Long Eaton.

Vivienne McCormack from High Peak has been appointed an MBE for her role as a leading provider of apprenticeships for young people, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.