In the spotlight with Ralph Lewis

How did you get into the health and safety industry?

Lion is a family company, and so it was only natural that I should become a part of its growth and its legacy. It was no surprise when, at 17, I left school and went straight into the family business. 

I quickly got to grips with every aspect of the company and spent time in each department to understand the inner workings of Lion. This helped me to develop a strong understanding of the factors that are fundamental to a company’s success within the health and safety industry. 

One of these factors is the opportunity to network with influential people who develop your knowledge of, and interest in, the industry. I was fortunate that these opportunities came my way as I climbed the ranks to the position of company director in 2019, a role which helped me to forge productive professional relationships with HSE professionals, business owners, and highly influential C-suite individuals.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

We are in a marketplace that is very fast moving and dynamic. By staying close to clients and working directly with them, I can better understand their needs, keep them informed about product updates and innovations, and provide guidance on changes to regulations, like EN standards.

Building strong relationships with clients helps me fulfil two key parts of my role. The first is that I ensure they have the effective solutions to any challenges they face with our products, which often comes down to finding the right fit rather than focusing on whether the product is high-end or low-cost.

The second part of my job involves traveling to showcase our products and explain their benefits. Many times, it’s not that the products are new, it’s that clients haven’t yet realised how these solutions can transform their workplace.

What do you think are the biggest challenges facing the health and safety industry in UK?

I would say one of the biggest challenges is the rapid pace of technological advancements. As we move toward more tech-driven workplaces, manual tasks are becoming increasingly complex, and new risks are constantly emerging. This means there’s no ‘one size fits all’ approach to safety anymore, and we need to be proactive in assessing and managing risks to ensure our safety standards aren’t outpaced by these changes.

Another challenge I see is balancing innovation with cost efficiency. While there’s a lot of emphasis on creating new safety products and driving costs down, I believe it’s just as important to focus on the processes behind safety, not just the products. For example, switching to a cheaper PPE option might save money upfront, but it might not always be the best long-term solution if it compromises worker’s safety. It’s all about finding the right balance between innovation, cost, and safety.

How do you think these challenges can be overcome?

This really is where HSE and procurement professionals can benefit from engaging with organisations like Lion. Collaboration is vital when overcoming challenges, and sometimes - when we are caught in the whirlwind of our day jobs – we neglect to prioritise those actions which would be beneficial, such as increased safety. A joint and proactive exploration of challenges and their solutions is by far and away the best approach. 

What sets Lion apart from its competitors?

Lion is an established family business, based in the heart of Scotland, with a culture defined by a shared commitment to excellence and exceeding customer expectations, from the speed of communication to the quality of products supplied. 

As part of the SMI Group, we are in the unique position of providing a regional, family touch in Scotland and northern England, while also possessing the operational capacity of a national enterprise. 

We have three points of difference which really set us apart. The first is that we are sector experts. Rather than chasing after every market, we have spent decades honing our expertise within the Public Sector, Logistics, Rail and Road, and Waste and Environmental. It is this focus that enables us to be leaders in what we do.

Second, we are a single source supplier, supplying over 25,000 products across 12 product categories. We also have £4.5m of stock holding and 50,000 square foot of warehousing, meaning we can really meet the needs of our customers, including seasonal fluctuations. 

From the point of view of our customers, we are very straightforward to work with. We offer next day delivery for items ordered before 5pm and can provide branded workwear in two working days. One of our real strengths is that we have one of the most extensive in-house embroidery and heat seal facilities in the UK, allowing us to brand over 7,000 items a day.

What are your most memorable successes at Lion?

We have had a lot of success over the years, and three things really stand out. One of these is seeing the company grow from humble beginnings to what it is today. Lion was started by my grandfather in 1991, and 2025 will be our 34^th year of trading, something we really look forward to celebrating.

We have also become part of a larger UK Group, a really positive change which allows us to offer even more products and a faster service to existing clients. 

I am also very proud of the fact that we recently won the Aggregate Industries Workwear, PPE & Site Consumables contract nationwide, a success that is a testament to what Lion can offer.

What’s next in the product pipeline for Lion Safety?

Lion is set to shake up the workwear industry with exciting new products from its ROKWEAR brand. The upcoming launches are all about blending sustainability with high performance.

Introducing ECOROKWEAR, a line of environmentally conscious workwear and hi-vis that delivers both safety and responsibility. The collection features durable, comfortable, and compliant products, including eco hi-vis clothing designed to keep workers visible and protected without sacrificing our planet. Alongside this, new ROKWEAR safety footwear styles are on the horizon, emphasising both style and foot health. Trust me, you’re going to want to keep an eye out for this - some exciting opportunities are on their way!

What’s your vision for the future of Lion?

My vision is to continue expanding the company within our key markets, and we’re already making great progress. A significant milestone was the recent launch of our 550-page catalogue, our first in four years, featuring a huge selection of product solutions. This is a big step forward for the company, and I’m confident it will drive fantastic results for our customers.

Looking ahead, I’m excited to further enhance the Lion brand’s presence, building on the strong foundation of a brand that has been trusted for over 30 years. 

What do you think the medium-term future holds for the safety industry globally?

From a safety product perspective, I think we’ll need a great deal more technology within production lines to manufacture innovative products, including technical fabrics and lightweight materials. There have already been tremendous developments on this front, but I believe there is still a lot more to come.

I also believe that as the world becomes more developed, regulations around safety will advance. An ongoing challenge will be implementing and adopting these regulations, not only in the manufacturing of safety products but also their use in day-to-day working environments.

What health and safety issues are you most passionate about?

I’m most passionate about safety footwear. It’s arguably the most personal item out of any PPE kit, and whilst it can cause severe accidents and losses when it’s not correct, it can have huge performance gains when done right. 

When footwear is truly fit for purpose, it can make a huge difference to the working day by improving posture and performance and we’re seeing a shift in how organisations view footwear, recognising that strategic investment can offer significant long-term benefits.

How can we entice more young talent to work in the health and safety sector?

Traditionally, jobs in health and safety have been perceived as negative and anti-performance. I think the opposite is true.

It’s been incredibly refreshing to meet younger people in the industry as they are prepared to find alternative ways of working, to present new ideas and concepts, and to challenge the status quo. 

When it comes to attracting more young people to the sector, I firmly believe that organisations that embrace developing a health and safety culture (one that is set and supported by senior executives) will entice younger people into the health and safety sector as it means they can make an enormous impact with the work that they do.

Ralph Lewis is business development director at Lion. For more information, visit www.lionsafety.co.uk