Fife Fabrications (Fifab) achieves 50 years in business in 2022, having been in operation since 1972. However, this milestone cannot be celebrated without also recognising that this success goes together with a strong commitment to the local community in which it operates and many years of supporting and championing Fife’s young people.

Having been in operation since 1972, for 50 years Fife Fabrications has remained one of the most advanced manufacturers of precision sheet metalwork, electromechanical assemblies, and precision machined components in the UK, offering a complete service from design for manufacture support, to manufacturing and full customer delivery.

Based in Glenrothes, with solid links to Developing the Young Workforce in Fife, the business has always demonstrated its commitment to improving Fife’s offering to young people through engagement with schools. Fife Fabrications has a long history of supporting the development of local talent in the region through offering regular (and highly successful) apprenticeships, generating work experience opportunities, delivering interview and CV sessions with local schools, and regularly promoting the benefits of these practices to other Fife-based businesses.

Making the Fifab Difference

The continual investment made in lean manufacturing, people development and processes mean that Fifab can offer its services at the lowest possible overall acquisition cost and create a cost-effective service for its customers. However, this strategy also works for local communities, creating local jobs, taking on local apprentices, working with local suppliers, and creating professional development prospects for employees through engagement with schools, management and talent development opportunities, on-site training, and professional development events.

Further to this, the business has a clear commitment to ongoing Corporate Social Responsibility through the activity of its hardworking charity committee. Over the years the business has built relationships with many local charities and organisations which it donates to regularly, whilst also giving back to causes nominated by its team. Despite facing many challenges related to the Covid-19 pandemic, Fifab was able to donate over £14k to local causes and charities over an 18-month period through money raised by the Fifab team and its wide-reaching business networks. In 2021 alone, benefactors included Ballingry, Lochgelly and Cardenden Foodbanks, BEAT, Fife Sands, NHS Fife, Lo’gelly Lunches, Glenrothes Art Club, CAHMS Fife, the Poppy Appeal and the Teenage Cancer Trust, amongst many others.

The team at Fife Fabrications are hugely supportive of the business’ focus on giving back to local people and communities, taking every opportunity to bring ideas or take on challenges which generate donations for causes they believe in. From marathons to charity golf days or offering their expertise and skills to develop footplates for local wheelchair racer, Johnny Brown – the relentless dedication of the team in giving up their time or expertise for the benefit of the community is nothing short of inspiring.

On celebrating Fife Fabrications’ 50^th anniversary, Managing Director John Penman is only too pleased to reflect on the impressive track record of the business supporting communities, charities, and young people in Fife.

John explained,

“We’re delighted to have stayed in business for 50 years and to have used that time to develop local talent, regularly engage with our community and build long-lasting relationships with our customers. I’d like to thank our customers, our team, our suppliers, and our local community for supporting Fifab to get to this milestone. We will continue to invest in our growth, our community, our people and in young talent to support the up-skilling of the next generation. Not only does this ensure we can create local opportunities for our Fife-based workforce and develop a fantastic team, but it also allows us to build a pipeline of skilled and talented experts who will deliver for our customers for the next fifty years!”