Ian Nicholls

Senior Warden, 2025-2026

Ian is a graduate metallurgist with a post graduate MSc in Management and Materials Technology and leadership credentials from the University of Oxford SaÏd business school.

Ian is responsible for the Quality and Technical teams and Continuous Improvement at Sheffield Forgemasters.

Ian has previously held roles as Managing Director of Vulcan SFM (Oil and Gas subsidiary including the office in Singapore), Group Manufacturing Director and Group Technical Director.

His focus is to lead high-performing teams that operate in an environment of trust and psychological safety, collaborating to identify opportunities for improvement and focused on achieving strategic goals.

Ian is a Member of The Cutlers Company of Hallamshire, recognising his contribution to engineering in Sheffield’s biggest manufacturing employer and subject to election, is in line to be Master Cutler in 2026/2027.

Ian is an advocate for working with local schools so that they better understand career opportunities in the Sheffield region. This work is closely aligned with the Sheffield Forgemasters apprenticeship scheme and other pre-apprentice community engagement.