County Durham firm Dyer Engineering unveils leadership changes

Dyer Engineering has appointed Adam Leggett as managing director as part of a restructuring aimed at supporting its ambitious five-year growth strategy.

The company, which operates across industries such as energy, defence, transport, and process, plans to expand its 182-strong workforce by a further 35 per cent by 2030.

This will be achieved through investment in new machinery and the strengthening of global partnerships.

The company has experienced ‘substantial growth’ over the past seven years, with turnover increasing from £11 million in 2020 to £17 million, and profits rising from a £1 million loss in 2020 to a £2 million profit in 2024.

The appointment of Mr Leggett follows a broader restructuring to prepare for future growth.

As part of this, Richard Bradley moves into the role of executive chairman after serving as managing director for three years.

The company also appointed commercial director Chris Stavers in November and transitioned Graeme Parkins to the role of strategic growth director.

Laurence Provost, finance director, and Richard Larder, business improvement director, complete the executive board.

Richard Bradley, executive chairman, said: “I’ve had a great run as managing director and as I transition into my new role, I continue to focus on supporting our growth plan.

“The company has come a long way and I’m confident that Adam, with his deep operational experience, will continue to lead Dyer Engineering to further success.”

Adam Leggett, who joined Dyer Engineering in 2022 as operations director, has been instrumental in improving operational efficiency and streamlining production processes.

He said: “It’s a great honour to step into the role of managing director at such an exciting time for Dyer Engineering.

“Richard has done an incredible job and I take the baton from him with a firm eye on continuing his legacy.

“Under his leadership, the company has thrived and I look forward to working closely with the team to drive further success, deliver value to our customers and support our vision for long-term expansion.”

A senior leadership working group has been established to support the company’s growth, comprising heads of HR, finance, operations, quality, and supply chain.

This collaborative approach reflects Dyer Engineering’s ‘commitment to nurturing a high-performing team’, guided by their Smarter Stronger Together principles, which continue to ‘drive innovation, operational excellence, and long-term success’.

As part of its five-year plan, the company continues to invest multi-millions in its people, facilities, and machinery to stay competitive in an evolving market.

The company is also focused on expanding its workforce, aiming for a 35 per cent increase in headcount over the next five years.

Central to this strategy is its Smarter Stronger Together principles, a commitment to apprenticeships, digital technology, and continuous improvement to encourage the next generation of engineers.

Dyer Engineering’s achievements were recently recognised at the Make UK Regional Awards, where it won the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Award and was a runner-up in the Innovation category.

The company has also been shortlisted for three categories at the 2025 Made in the North East Awards, including Digital Engineering/Technology, Manufacturing Future Talent, and Apprentice of the Year.