Steve Allen co-founded Darwen Terracotta in 2015 with a small team manufacturing architectural terracotta for restoration and new-build projects. Traditionally, this craft has remained unchanged for more than a century, relying on meticulous hand-modelling and firing processes. But Steve has ensured that while the soul of the craft remains, its methods are evolving for the future.
Published: September 25th, 2025
5 min read
The business’ early days were characterised by everyone rolling their sleeves up, building dryers, loading kilns, and doing whatever it took to bring the vision to life. Fast-forward ten years and that small team has grown to more than 50 passionate individuals, significant investment in technology and an annual turnover of more than £6 million thanks to impressive international growth.
What truly sets Steve apart is his approach to leadership. He believes in the power of recognising individuals’ strengths, creating a collaborative environment where diverse skills come together to drive collective success. "Empowering people is one of the greatest things that drives you on," he reflects, highlighting his belief that a company's true strength lies in its people.
Starting as a UK-based terracotta restoration business, the business quickly became the largest in their field, but the team felt there was even more potential. They wanted to drive strategic expansion into the US market and diversify into new products, through the manufacture of heavy-duty fireclay sinks under the Whitebirk Sink Company brand, becoming the only British-owned manufacturer of these beautifully-crafted sinks in the UK.
The business has made investments into robotics and 3D printing and scanning, but also into the talented individuals who can integrate innovation across the production processes. Whether that’s scanning and modelling or clay shaping while retaining the essential hand-finished artistry that defines Darwen Terracotta’s work.
The business’ ambition for international growth is particularly exciting. After recently signing a deal with a distributor in the United States with over 3,000 retailers across the US and Canada, Steve envisions the sink business eventually surpassing their original terracotta operations.
At the heart of everything Steve does is a desire to ensure rare skills are passed down to future generations who will be naturally fluent in technology. He sees himself as a custodian of something greater than business: something cultural, artistic, and enduring. Steve Allen is a trailblazer not because he disrupted an industry but because he found a way to evolve it with care, respect, and lasting vision.
When asked about what makes a trailblazer, Steve is characteristically humble. He doesn't see himself as the trailblazer, but as part of a collective effort. Not one of grand gestures, but about consistent, thoughtful innovation all built on a shared vision, mutual respect, and a commitment to pushing the boundaries of what's possible.