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Twelve regional companies have received Queen’s Awards for their international business success.
The winners of the annual Queen’s Awards for Enterprise were announced on 21 April, The Queen’s birthday. They are the UK’s most prestigious accolades for business-related achievement and are handed to companies judged to be ‘outstanding’. In total, 15 Yorkshire and Humber companies were given awards this year – the highest number in the region this decade – with 12 of these made in the international trade category.
One of the firms to be honoured was Gripple, the Sheffield-based manufacturer of the unique Gripple wire joiner. Invented 20 years ago, almost 300 million of the devices have now been sold worldwide, to more than 2,000 customers in 85 countries. Between 2003 and 2006, international sales grew by 53% and represented more than 80% of turnover. This is the second time the firm has won a Queen’s Award.
Mark Edmonds, Gripple’s managing director said: “This award is a tremendous honour, and a huge milestone in Gripple’s development as a world-beating, customer-focused company. We are delighted and proud that our ongoing efforts to expand our international business have also been recognised in such a highly prestigious way.
“Gripple is founded on defying convention. This philosophy, which also encompasses a commitment to people, excellence, partnership and community, combined with our ability to communicate in 14 of the world’s most commonly used languages, has not only enabled us to compete with foreign competitors but also to leave them standing!”
Another regional winner was Hull-based Advanced New Technologies Limited, which designs and installs marine electronic systems. The firm won the award for increasing its overseas revenue by 178%.
Steve Puckering, managing director, commented: “This award is particularly well timed as last October we celebrated our 20th year in business, so this is a great 21st birthday present! We started with two employees and now have 102, a number of who are located overseas.
“Our customers are based around the world and we are a truly international company. We have offices here in Hull, Southampton, the South of France, Holland and our most recent opening in the US. As well as our global expansion ANT have increased turnover by 50% over the last three years and this year we should achieve £11million in sales and reach double digit profit figures.”
Also recognised by the Queen’s Awards was Huthwaite International, which provides training solutions and consultancy in sales and management skills development, based on its own intellectual property and research-based models. This is the second time that the firm, based at Wentworth, Rotherham, has won the award for its export growth – with export sales having grown 138% in three years. Most recently, Huthwaite extended its network into the Middle East through its partnership with Cairo-based LOGIC Management Consulting. An agreement with SDO Consultoria in Portugal has also extended the company’s presence in Europe.
Commenting on the award, managing director Tony Hughes said: “This Award is a fitting tribute to the tremendous efforts of both our staff and expanding global partner network.
“Importantly, it also reflects the continuing loyalty of those major international clients with whom we have worked over many years.”
Pace Micro Technologies, based in Saltaire, West Yorkshire, was another company to scoop an award – also for the second time. The firm, which produces digital set-top boxes and digital home entertainment equipment for the Pay TV industry has increased its exports by 251% over three years to £335 million, which in the final year represented 81% of total sales. Over the last three years, Pace has won business in four new territories – Germany, South Africa, Canada and Turkey – and grown its operations in the US, winning business with the two largest Pay TV operators in the world.
Neil Gaydon, chief executive officer commented: “Winning the Queens Award for International Trade is testament to the tremendous work that has taken place at Pace over the last three years in broadening our international customer base and creating the best portfolio of Pay TV customers in the world.”
Another winning company was J. Marr (Seafoods) Ltd, based in Hull, which is a world leader in the trading of pelagic fish species. The firm – which has won the Queen’s Award for International Trade once before – currently has 18 overseas markets. Over the past three years overseas sales have increased by 94%.
Andrew Marr, chairman, said: “I am delighted to learn that J.Marr (Seafoods) Ltd has been granted the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the International Trade category. We have a very talented team of people in our international fish trading business and I am thrilled that their enthusiasm, flair and commitment have been recognised in this way.”
The other regional companies to win the international trade award were:
Commenting on the results, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: “Queen’s Award winning companies are standard-bearers for the very best of British business. These firms embody the spirit of enterprise and innovation that is so vital to the future of Britain’s economy. Whether large or small, every one of this year’s winning organisations has achieved outstanding success in its field. I congratulate them all on their diverse and remarkable achievements.”
Entries are now invited for the 2009 Awards. For further information please visit www.queensawards.org.uk.
