Woodhouses 1970 to 1979

Woodhouses 1970 to 1979: The Inflation Years

The 1970’s in the UK were turbulent years characterised by petrol shocks, accelerated industrial change, government change and financial bailouts which collectively led to labour unrest, high unemployment and runaway inflation. The post WWII expansion finished abruptly as manufacturing costs escalated, product quality plummeted and imports threatened the very markets and products for which the UK was famous. There were strikes all over the public sector including British Coal, British Rail, the CEGB and British Leyland and stretching across the local authority workers who were all on go slow or complete shut down. It was a volatile decade when just staying in business was an achievement of itself.

Gladly, the Woodhouses business of traditional shows and events continued despite the national strife and turmoil. At their offices in Nottingham a second floor of office space was constructed by the site foreman during the winter months. On completion an adjacent plot of land was bought and the Woodhouse Engineering Works was constructed from where they traded as Tinsley Wire and Weldmesh Distributors and Fabricators of Steelwork.

In this decade the 4th generation Woodhouse brothers were promoted to management roles and in 1976 Robert, Michael and Richard Woodhouse were made Directors of the family business. Product renewal, replacement and gradual improvement were the targets of the day as material costs escalated year on year with inflation rising to nearly 15%.