John started out selling steel toecap boots to miners and soon moved into the company's first premises, in the Old Vinegar Brewery in the East End of Sheffield. Together with his son Howard Topham, Progressive's Managing Director, they moved the business into the 34,000sq ft Distribution Centre Headquarters in Darnall, Sheffield in 1995.
John was a popular, well respected member of the local business community and was still involved in the everyday business of the company right up until his 90th birthday. Today the company employs over 60 at its headquarters and has a 10 strong salesforce throughout the country. In 2008, Progressive Safety was awarded the exclusive licence for the UK and Ireland to manufacture a range of safety footwear under the world-renowned JCB brand.
John was a popular, well respected member of the local business community and was still involved in the everyday business of the company right up until his 90th birthday. Today the company employs over 60 at its headquarters and has a 10 strong salesforce throughout the country. In 2008, Progressive Safety was awarded the exclusive licence for the UK and Ireland to manufacture a range of safety footwear under the world-renowned JCB brand.
