Sheffield Forgemasters technical director installed as 387th Master Cutler
A career spanning over four decades in metallurgical engineering culminates in Ian Nicholls' installation as the 387th Master Cutler, placing him at the forefront of advocating for manufacturing excellence across Sheffield and South Yorkshire.
A veteran metallurgist who has spent more than four decades at the forefront of heavy engineering has taken office as the 387th Master Cutler.
Ian Nicholls, Group Technical Director at Sheffield Forgemasters, was formally installed at Cutlers’ Hall today, succeeding Professor Keith Jackson as head of The Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire.
In his new post, he will spend the coming year acting as an industrial ambassador for Sheffield and South Yorkshire's wider manufacturing community.
Mr Nicholls’ career has tracked the regional manufacturing sector's shift towards advanced, safety-critical work across defence, nuclear and energy. Sheffield Forgemasters, which became a UK Ministry of Defence-owned facility in 2021, plays a central part in supporting the UK's submarine fleet.
A metallurgy graduate from The University of Manchester with an MSc in Management and Materials Technology and leadership training from the University of Oxford Saïd Business School, his past achievements include overseeing a landmark 600-tonne liquid steel pour to produce a 350-tonne casting. Earlier in his career, as Managing Director of Vulcan SFM in 2009, he developed steel casting markets across the Gulf of Mexico, Brazil and Asia.
His link to The Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire began more than three decades ago, when he received the Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers’ Pontifex Award in 1992.
Speaking on his appointment, Mr Nicholls said: “When I first stepped onto The Company’s ladder towards becoming Master Cutler, I could not have imagined the investments we are seeing across the region and the strategies to exploit them would be happening in my year of office. In this environment, The Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire continues to be relevant as the pillar around which Freemen, Friends and the companies they represent can coalesce.
“The Company of Cutlers was established to bring structure and discipline to the manufacture of cutlery, to provide training for its workers and from the profits of that honest endeavour to give back to the community. These goals remain the same today. The Company’s Better Learners Better Workers programme provides a link between schools and the world of work, whilst the Master Cutler’s Challenge, this year in support of Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity, continues to provide support to communities across South Yorkshire.
“It is a huge honour to be entrusted with this responsibility, and I will be wringing every drop of experience from my 42 years in industry to do it justice.”
He is joined for the year by his wife, Liz Nicholls, who becomes Mistress Cutler. A Lead Nurse for the Burns Service at Sheffield Children's Hospital, she brings extensive experience from The Children's Hospital Charity and Theo's Burns Club to the position.
Martin van Kan, Chief Executive & Clerk to The Company, said: “The Master Cutler has always played an important role in connecting Sheffield’s industrial heritage with its future, and Ian is ideally placed to continue that tradition. His career at the forefront of some of Sheffield’s most advanced manufacturing demonstrates exactly the expertise, innovation and ambition that we want to champion. We are delighted to welcome Ian and Liz and look forward to supporting them throughout their year as Master and Mistress Cutler.”