Tuesday, November 25, 2025
Rope and Sling Specialists Ltd.’s (RSS) Steve Hutin was crowned winner in the Excellence in Leadership category at the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) annual awards, presented on 18 November at Liverpool’s Anfield stadium.
Hutin, managing director of RSS, was roared to the stage to collect the trophy by over 450 guests, representing the lifting and rigging industry’s most notable manufacturers and suppliers. Attendees had earlier listened to guest speaker, former rugby player Will Greenwood, one of England’s top try-scoring centres.
Hutin, a three-decade veteran of the sector, will mark 20 years since buying RSS next year. Today, the business offers a comprehensive portfolio of lifting and rigging products, in addition to live365 digitalisation and compliance technology. It supplies blocks, shackles, hooks, slings, harnesses, and other rigging gear — all covered by periodic Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) inspections — to some of the UK’s most notable joint ventures, consortiums, large-scale infrastructure projects, and blue chip firms.
As attendees were told prior to presentation of the award, Hutin is an inspirational leader whose vision and integrity have transformed RSS from a small South Wales depot into a thriving national business. Despite this growth, he has stayed true to his family-run values, fostering a caring, people-first culture where every employee feels valued. Hutin’s innovative approach to safety, digitalisation, and sustainability continues to raise industry standards and inspire those around him.
He said: “I do not covet adulation, but I was extremely grateful that key members of our team put so much energy and effort into building such a robust entry. While I am always more focussed on what’s next, versus what has been, it was a timely moment to reflect on decisions that we have made that have positively impacted so many individuals within our company. It goes without saying that, without the quality of individuals we have, and the strength of unity they create, the business wouldn’t be where it is today — and its leadership wouldn’t be recognised by a leading authority such as LEEA.”
Dynamism in action
As LEEA reported, leadership can often be a lonely place. Leaders carry the ultimate responsibility — making tough decisions, handling difficult conversations, and staying composed even after sleepless nights. Yet without strong leadership, progress stalls and innovation loses its spark. This category celebrated an individual whose vision, drive, and determination have made a measurable impact. Judges were looking for clear evidence of vision, ambition, and dynamism in action.
The seventh staging of the awards welcomed record entries. Hutin was one of five applicants shortlisted for the night’s top prize. The judging panel commented: “Steve clearly demonstrates original thinking, emerging tech use, and strategic innovation.” — “Very good explanation, well evidenced.” — “Good evidence of measurable growth, innovation, safety impact, and workforce development.” — “Steve is clearly a widely respected and inspirational figure within the lifting industry.”
Hutin added: “It’s true what they say: leadership can be a lonely place as you need to make decisions for the business that may impact individuals, and you’ve got no guarantees of positive outcomes. But I would repeat what I said about the importance of a group of loyal people around a brand or company captain. Excellence in Leadership is as much Excellence in Team as it is anything else.”
The awards were presented at the halfway point of the association’s LiftEx trade show, which took place at the nearby Exhibition Centre Liverpool. There, RSS showcased the live365 digitalisation and compliance project, rebranded Training Academy, and entertained visitors with a nine-dart challenge and fully stocked refreshment bar.
