About the Business
Structural Adhesives is based on the Marlow Road Industrial Estate, just over the River Soar from the King Power Stadium, in Leicester.
The business has been going for more than 35 years, providing high-quality, technical-grade adhesives designed to meet the demands of industries ranging from construction and aerospace to engineering and beyond.
Its mission is to provide industry with adhesives that are not only reliable but also sustainable, helping to build a safer, greener future.
Through collaboration, cutting-edge research and a commitment to compliance, the business has helped redefine what is possible in bonding technology – including developing adhesives that could be used on space missions.
It underwent a full restructure seven years ago after being taken over by managing director Angela Orton. Rather than making small changes that would have little impact, Angela took the decision to step back and look properly at what the business was good at and where its real strengths lay.
That process started with the people – with strong values set early on and embedded into everything the business does.
They shape how it approaches research and development, its manufacturing processes, and how it collaborates with others.
The business’s manufacturing operates alongside R&D activity through its Luma Research & Development Laboratories subsidiary – bringing together practical experience with research-led thinking, allowing it to work across complex technical challenges in a considered and flexible way.
As a microbusiness, its structure gives it the agility and the ability to adapt quickly, to address problems at an early stage and respond in a way that would be difficult for bigger organisations.
The R&D team is all-female, the result of a natural journey which has always focussed on capability and trust.
The company’s people-first, values-led approach has been recognised through a number of awards, most recently the King’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation.
The management team continues to move the business forward with an open-minded vision, empowering its workers by encouraging fresh thinking and creating the right environment for meaningful progress.
By focusing on strengths and being willing to remove what does not work, the business continues to evolve in a way that is sustainable, resilient and aligned with its long-term direction.
The team regularly takes on new development opportunities and attends networking events that strengthen expertise and support personal growth. Its leadership engages with wider industry networks through sector events and innovation forums, bringing back valuable insights to shape strategy and inform its R&D priorities.
Together, these achievements show how Structural Adhesives is moving forward while contributing to the wider industry across the East Midlands.
Challenges Faced
Operating within advanced manufacturing and R&D as a microbusiness brings its own challenges. Innovation is rarely straightforward, and translating research into practical, manufacturable products takes time, experience and persistence. Accessing the right opportunities, networks and support can also be difficult.
Another ongoing challenge has been knowing when to take a slower approach. At various points, this has meant stepping back to review direction, focus on what works best, and remove elements that no longer support the long-term vision of the business.
The solution and Impact
Structural Adhesives joined the Chamber in 1989 and joined EMMN in 2023, going on to introduce colleagues Jim Orton, Jade Lewin-Patel and KTP associate Morgan Bates to the network.
In June 2025, Angela, Jade and Morgan spoke at the Leicester EMMN meeting at De Montfort University, sharing an update on Knowledge Transfer Partnerships and the impact on the business from a KTP with the University of Leicester. See write up in Business Network magazine.
Morgan has become a regular attendee and contributor to EMMN meetings with Angela, and attending the meetings has led to connections and collaboration opportunities with other EMMN members.
Angela said membership of the network had delivered value far beyond making new contacts – creating a strong connection with the wider manufacturing community and becoming an important support mechanism for the business.
The regular meetings encourage open and honest conversations in a trusted environment – being able to speak with others who understand the realities of manufacturing and innovation has been invaluable.
Sharing challenges and learning from businesses facing similar issues has often led to reassurance, clarity and practical solutions.
Sometimes a single conversation has been enough to give the team a new way of thinking or spark ideas to take back into the business. This exchange of experience has helped encourage creativity and innovation and reduced the isolation often felt as a specialist, R&D-led microbusiness.
Showcasing Success
and Building Connections through East Midlands Chamber
Through entering the Chamber-run Leicestershire Business Awards a few years ago, Angela Orton realised that there was so much more available to them as part of the membership.
Chamber engagement has led to reports in the Chamber’s Business Network magazine – including coverage of the King’s Award and speaker opportunities at the Chamber AGM to share the story of the business’s success with others in the region.
Jade Lewin-Patel was named Innovator of the Year at the Chamber’s 2025 Generation Next Awards. Morgan and Tegan Harris are also members of the Generation Next network, which is aimed at young executives.
“For us, building a strong business has meant having the confidence to step back, reassess our strengths and move forward in a realistic and values-driven way. East Midlands Manufacturing Network has been vital in supporting us through open conversations, shared experience and by connecting us with like-minded businesses across the manufacturing community. It has brought a greater sense of belonging, in a trusted and safe environment which is essential for small businesses.”
Angela Orton,
Managing Director