Leadership transitions are often defining moments for long-established manufacturing businesses. At Regent Engineering, they represent something more enduring: the continuation of a legacy that has shaped one of the Black Country’s longest-serving engineering companies for more than eight decades.

Founded in 1941 by Arthur Shaw, Regent Engineering has grown from a local toolmaking business into a respected manufacturer of precision pressings, welded assemblies and fabricated structures, supplying customers across aerospace, defence, transport and infrastructure.

Much of that journey has been guided by the Shaw family. Arthur’s sons Alan, John and Tony each played significant roles in developing the business, steering it through changing markets, technological advances and shifting industrial landscapes while maintaining the values that earned Regent Engineering its reputation for quality and reliability.

Now, another chapter begins as Stuart Whitehouse assumes the role of Managing Director, succeeding Alan Shaw and leading the company into its next phase of growth.

For Whitehouse, the appointment is both an honour and a responsibility.

“Businesses like Regent Engineering don’t survive for more than 80 years by accident,” he said.

“They survive because generations of people have cared deeply about quality, about customers and about doing the right thing. Alan and the Shaw family have created something very special, and I’m incredibly proud to have the opportunity to build on that legacy.”

Rather than signalling a change in direction, Whitehouse describes the transition as one of evolution.

“We’re not trying to reinvent Regent Engineering,” he explained.

“The foundations are already exceptionally strong. Our focus is on building upon them by investing in our people, strengthening our manufacturing capability, developing new markets and ensuring the business continues to thrive for future generations.”

That investment is already visible. Regent Engineering has strengthened its position within aerospace and defence through membership of the Midlands Aerospace Alliance, joined the collaborative manufacturing community ConeX Portal and continues to develop FloorStak®, its innovative modular flooring system used across defence, aerospace maintenance, temporary infrastructure and major events.

Alongside these developments, the company’s traditional strengths remain unchanged. High-quality presswork, fabrication, robotic welding, tooling and complex welded assemblies continue to underpin the business, supported by decades of manufacturing expertise.

Whitehouse believes that balance between heritage and innovation is what makes long-established manufacturers so resilient.

“Experience gives you confidence, but it shouldn’t stop you looking forward,” he said.

“The manufacturing sector is changing rapidly, whether that’s digital technology, sustainability, automation or evolving customer expectations. Our role is to embrace those opportunities while preserving the engineering standards and customer relationships that have always defined Regent Engineering.”

As British manufacturing enters a new era of investment in defence, infrastructure and resilient domestic supply chains, Whitehouse believes companies with strong engineering heritage are well placed to succeed.

“Every generation leaves the business stronger than they found it,” he said.

“That’s certainly the ambition here. We want to honour everything that has come before while creating new opportunities for our employees, our customers and the generations of engineers who will shape Regent Engineering’s future.”

More than eighty years after Arthur Shaw founded the company, the baton has been passed once again. The faces leading the business may have changed, but the commitment to engineering excellence remains exactly the same.

As the UK’s summer events season gets underway, organisers are preparing for some of the biggest temporary infrastructure projects of the year.

From Formula One hospitality suites and Wimbledon spectator facilities to music festivals, outdoor concerts and luxury wedding venues, one challenge remains constant: creating safe, reliable access on uneven ground.

That’s where FloorStak comes into its own.

Our modular ramps, steps and walkways are designed specifically for temporary structures, accommodating a wide range of heights and slopes while delivering rapid installation and complete reusability. Whether the site is a race circuit, sports venue, festival field or country estate, the system can be quickly deployed to provide safe, professional access for guests, staff and contractors.

As Stuart Whitehouse, Managing Director of Regent Engineering, explains:

“The success of any temporary structure isn’t just about the building itself – it’s about how people access and move around it safely. Our ramps, modular steps and walkways allow event organisers to create high-quality access solutions regardless of the terrain.”

“During the summer season, speed, flexibility and reliability are essential. FloorStak systems are designed to install quickly, adapt to site conditions and then be packed away efficiently for the next event. That’s why they’re increasingly being specified for major sporting events, festivals and premium hospitality environments.”

With compact transport pallets, reusable components and modular configurations that can be adapted to virtually any site layout, FloorStak helps event professionals deliver first-class visitor experiences from arrival to departure.

The UK’s biggest summer events may only last a few days, but the infrastructure behind them requires engineering that performs every time.

Recent deployments at UK military barracks are showcasing how FloorStak’s innovative support and levelling system is helping contractors overcome one of the most persistent challenges in temporary infrastructure: creating perfectly level, safe and stable flooring on uneven ground.

As the UK Government and defence industry place greater emphasis on strengthening domestic supply chains and increasing SME participation, British manufacturers with proven engineering solutions are finding new opportunities to support military and defence-related projects.

For FloorStak, a registered brand of Regent Engineering, recent visits to military barracks across the UK have demonstrated how its support and levelling technology can provide a practical solution for the rapid installation of field tents and temporary accommodation structures.

The system is designed to eliminate the limitations traditionally associated with challenging ground conditions. Whether deployed on hardstanding, sloping terrain, car parks or uneven surfaces, FloorStak enables contractors to create a perfectly level platform with height adjustments ranging from just 200mm up to an impressive 1,650mm.

Unlike conventional approaches that often require extensive ground preparation, excavation or additional temporary works, FloorStak’s adjustable support system allows installers to adapt quickly to site conditions while maintaining structural integrity and safety.

Stuart Whitehouse, Managing Director of Regent Engineering, said:

“The true beauty of FloorStak is its ability to remove ground conditions as a constraint. Whether we’re dealing with a slight slope or a significant level difference, the system allows us to create a perfectly level structure every time.”

“We can accommodate height variations from 200mm right through to 1,650mm, which means contractors no longer have to compromise on location or invest heavily in site preparation. We simply adjust, align and create a stable platform.”

The technology has been developed specifically for temporary structures and integrates directly with flooring systems, providing a robust foundation capable of supporting demanding applications. The FloorStak support and levelling system is suitable for uneven and sloping ground, integrates with temporary structures and flooring systems, and has been structurally verified for use in challenging environments.

The recent military projects highlight a wider opportunity emerging within the defence sector. As outlined in the newly launched Practical Guide to Working in Defence from Make UK Defence and Lloyds, SMEs with specialist engineering expertise are increasingly being encouraged to enter defence supply chains and contribute innovative solutions to longstanding operational challenges.

Whitehouse believes products such as FloorStak are well positioned to support this shift.

“The defence sector needs practical engineering solutions that can be deployed quickly, reliably and repeatedly in demanding environments. That’s exactly what FloorStak was designed to do. The feedback we’ve received from military installations has reinforced the value of having a system that can adapt to virtually any ground condition while maintaining speed of installation.”

Manufactured in the UK by Regent Engineering, FloorStak has built its reputation across the temporary structures sector, supporting applications ranging from event infrastructure and hospitality venues to access systems, walkways and elevated flooring platforms. The system’s modular design, rapid installation and ability to minimise transport requirements have made it an attractive option for organisations operating in time-critical environments.

As defence spending increases and the Government continues to encourage greater SME participation, innovative British manufacturers are expected to play an increasingly important role in delivering specialist infrastructure solutions.

For FloorStak, recent military deployments offer a clear example of how engineering expertise developed in commercial markets can translate into valuable capabilities for the defence sector, helping create safe, level and reliable temporary structures wherever they are needed.