I open doors to facilitate international trade and in doing so I increase business revenue and profitability, whilst reducing costs and avoiding costly mistakes.
The Small World of International Trade and Engineering Recently, I had the chance to visit Renishaw Hall, a place I often passed while working at British Steel Engineering - Renishaw Foundry. This visit stirred up so many memories and connections, and it reminded me just how intertwined our world can be, especially in international trade and engineering. At BSE, we manufactured castings for a wide range of industries, from steel processing to railway products and components for the London Underground. The foundry was a hub of innovation and craftsmanship, but sadly, it closed its doors several years ago. Its legacy, however, continues to surface in unexpected ways. While exploring Renishaw Hall, I came across a fascinating discovery: a steam engine commissioned by the Tsar of Russia, built by Rustons of Lincoln and restored by Penny Hydraulics. This discovery was particularly special to me because not only has Siemens been a customer of mine, but Penny Hydraulics is also a company I recently visited during a fantastic sustainability networking event showcasing their inspiring journey to Net Zero. These connections really brought home how small and interconnected the world feels when you work in global industries. Since leaving the foundry, I’ve had the opportunity to visit Russia, collaborate with Siemens Lincoln (historically Rustons), and reengage with Penny Engineering—all of which link back to this remarkable piece of history I stumbled across in a courtyard at Renishaw Hall. It’s incredible how international trade creates these unexpected intersections, where paths cross again and again, weaving a global web of shared experiences and stories. For me, this was a moment of reflection on how our professional journeys often come full circle in the most surprising and delightful ways. Have you ever experienced these “small world” moments in your work? I’d love to hear your stories! #EngineeringHeritage #InternationalTrade #Sustainability #NetZeroJourney #SmallWorldMoments #InternationalTradeMatters #Siemens #PennyEngineering Niki Kerr Paul Smolinski
Glad you enjoyed your visit to Renishaw Hall. The gardens are at their best in the spring but lovely to walk round anytime. There are surprises, like the steam engine, with great stories inside and out. My father spotted the engine in the sawmill and asked Sir Reresby if it would be OK to restore it. There was an electric motor to turn it over but this was years ago. Sir Reresby was interested in what we did at at Penny Engineering or Penny Hydraulics as we were then and visited several times for a walk round with John Penny Senior.