About Us

Our History

Hopkins Cattle Grids originally started as P & J Hopkins in the early eighties when Philip and his wife Janet started a fabrication business providing metal solutions to the farming community such as lambing sheds, sheep hurdles etc.

In 1987, Philip realised that the government scheme of opening uplands to walkers, climbers and rally enthusiasts would lead to a wider market for cattle grids and started marketing and producing them.

Gary Edkins, Managing Director on the tools in the late 1990’s

Jock and Phil Hopkins.

In 1990, our current MD Gary joined the business as a young 20-year-old who had worked as a steel fabricator since school. Gary was working from a small unit on the Lion Works often working 18-hour days and sleeping in the bait shed as the business took off whilst Philip ran the office side and his wife would often be there late herself painting the grids, which were more popular at that time.

The Company steadily grew, and extra staff were employed during the early 90s despite a recession putting most businesses on the back foot. Business from our biggest customer, the Ministry of Defence, dwindled due to budget cuts but the growing wind farm sector replenished this as our heavy-duty grids were perfect for withstanding the constant heavy traffic. This and regular orders from large estates kept us busy throughout the years.

In 1997, the business now known as Hopkins Cattle Grids Ltd moved around the corner to its current premises with approx. 15,000 square feet that housed four welding bays, multiple racking for steel stockholding and offices. Philip was soon dealing with top estate managers, the Crown Estates and councils countrywide cementing the Hopkins Quick-fit Grids™ name as the first port of call for any grid requirements. The business continued to grow despite having to deal with the foot and mouth outbreak in 2001 which hit the farming community extremely hard.

Phil had a great love of travel and visited a great number of countries, especially loving the Caribbean. In 2002 he purchased a plot on St Kitts and built an eight-bedroomed property where he spent a considerable amount of time, which meant that Gary had to move into the office and take on the sales role along with his other duties.

Gary Edkins, Managing Director on the tools in the late 1990’s.

Gary created the website and the company continued to go from strength to strength. Whilst supplying major windfarm developments alongside its increasing existing customer base, grids were now being delivered to France, Norway, South Africa, Ascension Islands and the furthest away to date, the Falkland Islands!

Sadly, in 2014 Phil passed away after a short illness at the young age of 59. He entrusted the business to Gary knowing that his name and business would live on.

In 2015, after working Saturdays whilst at school, Ryan joined the business as a fabricator in the workshop and Gary’s wife Claire took over the finance and administration role, leaving Gary free to concentrate on developing new products and growing the business. The workforce had now grown to four plus Gary, Claire & Ryan and grids were being sent all over the UK, Europe and worldwide, with over 30,000 installed to date.

In 2021 Ryan became Operations Director, taking over the day-to-day running of the factory and telephone and internet sales with Gary acting in a consulting role.

Phil and clients admiring an early edition of the Hopkins Cattle Grid.

Meet the Team

Find out more about us and take a more in depth look at the team at Hopkins Cattle Grids.

About Us

Our History

Meet the Team

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