Amanda Oldfield, Wrought Iron & Brass Beds founder has been hailed as Inspiring Leader of the Year at the 2025 Made in Britain Impact Awards.
Oldfield ‘transformed a family workshop into a national brand, while leading from the front across sustainability and UK manufacturing,’ says the judges.
They commended her for championing local employment, developing apprenticeship opportunities and ensuring that sustainability runs through every part of the business, from materials sourcing to ethical production and energy efficiency.
‘This recognition is amazing, but it’s the team behind me that makes it possible. There really is no such word as “can’t”,’ she says.
‘Mum really sets the tone for the whole company, ever since she had the idea 22 years ago. Everything that we do today is down to her original ethos. 16 years ago, a major retailer really let us down and it would have been easy for us to walk away, but mum said “No, we’re going to carry on. Having shifted focus from B2B to B2C, we do still supply retailers, but it’s under our terms. It all comes from mum’s unwavering determination, and she would never tell you this herself,’ says Harry Oldfield, Wrought Iron & Brass Beds head of marketing and product development.
The company was also named as runner-up in the excellence in procurement category.
