The latest ALFED Extrusion Sector Group meeting was kindly hosted by BOAL Extrusion UK Ltd, under the leadership of Emma Swan, Chair of the Extrusion Sector Group and ALFED Vice President, bringing together members from across the extrusion community for a highly engaging and forward-looking session.
As part of ALFED’s ongoing Aluminium Allies initiative, members were encouraged to bring a new starter or younger colleague to the meeting. This created a noticeably different dynamic in the room, with a strong mix of experience and emerging talent. The presence of the Allies helped to shape a more open and progressive discussion, particularly around the future of the workforce and the importance of building a sustainable talent pipeline for the sector.
A key highlight of the session was a presentation from ALFED Partner, George Bain, who led a thought-provoking discussion on leadership, talent development, and retention. This was complemented by a wider group conversation, where members and Allies shared real experiences of entering and progressing within the industry. The discussion reinforced the importance of clear career pathways, mentorship, and creating working environments where individuals feel supported, valued, and able to develop over time.
The meeting also reflected the broader mission of the Extrusion Sector Group, which continues to evolve as a strategic forum within ALFED. In line with the Federation’s wider approach, the group is working towards developing a clearer, evidence-based understanding of the UK extrusion market — including capability, capacity, and operational challenges — to better support both industry decision-making and Government engagement.
This includes ongoing work to build a more accurate picture of:
- UK extrusion capacity and utilisation
- Market demand and domestic versus imported supply
- Supply chain pressures and trading dynamics
These discussions are becoming increasingly important in the context of wider geopolitical developments, where trade flows, tariffs, and global market shifts are directly impacting the UK aluminium sector.
Alongside the formal meeting, attendees were given a tour of the BOAL facility, providing valuable insight into operational practices and recent investment in sustainability and efficiency. The session concluded with a networking lunch, offering further opportunity for peer-to-peer exchange and collaboration.
Overall, the meeting demonstrated the growing value of the Extrusion Sector Group not just as a forum for discussion, but as a platform for industry alignment, knowledge sharing, and future workforce development.
