This year Steeper Group proudly celebrate 50 years in Leeds, providing prosthetic, orthotic and assistive technology devices and services which enhance people’s lives. Steeper moved to Leeds under the original founder, Hugh Steeper, to continue the production of prosthetic and orthotic devices outside of London.
In the last 50 years huge changes have taken place; including investment in the company by third parties and a management buyout, as well as the introduction of assistive technology to the product range. Successes in providing services to the NHS have led to company growth, including providing the prosthetic and orthotic service to Leeds from Seacroft hospital and to the Mid-Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust. Previously, the organisation was located at three sites in Leeds; however, are now all located in one purpose-built flagship manufacturing and head office facility in Stourton - employing a range of skilled technicians and administrative teams.
Leeds based Customer Services Administrator, Margaret Davy, has been with the company for thirty-five years and is one of the longest standing employees, “I’ve seen changes in ownership, a higher focus on orthotic device production, the introduction of assistive technology to the range and several locations around the Hunslet area of Leeds. What has always shone through, and the reason I love working here; is the dedication to getting things right for the patient.”
Steeper Group is owned by Paul Steeper, grandson of founder Hugh Steeper, along with Yorkshire born-and-bred friend and business partner John Midgley who explains why Steeper Group are so involved with the city: “Leeds and Yorkshire flow through the heart of our business, we produce devices from our production facility and employ over 200 people in Leeds. From our Seacroft Hospital-based prosthetic and orthotic clinic we carry out 30,000 appointments each year making us very much a part of the city, and in the wider region we also provide an orthotic service to the Mid-Yorkshire NHS Trust.”
To celebrate the work carried in in Leeds and the wider Yorkshire region, Steeper recently teamed up with Leeds City Council to sponsor Light Night - a free annual arts event which included a live parade, light projections and interactive installations.