As Maurice Critchley strolls around his company’s sprawling factory in the English cathedral city of Gloucester, he pauses to talk with some of the production workers, remembering their names with ease. Behind the pleasantries, however, there is a purpose: Mr Critchley says getting to know people and treating them decently has helped him to build Severn Gloconinto one of the world’s leading makers of “safety critical” valves for the oil and gas industry.

In both appearance and demeanour, Mr Critchley looks a model of the English gentleman. In his habitual outfit of a neatly cut suit and tie, the tall and trim 63-year-old talks in clear tones and rarely raises his voice. “I suppose you could say I exhibit English phlegm.”

The industrial valves sector in which Severn Glocon operates is well-suited to another of his characteristics: extreme attention to detail.