Strong showing by Midlands firms in Private Business Awards
THE shortlist for the third annual Private Business Awards features a strong showing by firms from the Midlands.
The awards, sponsored by PwC, in association with HSBC Private Bank, are designed to demonstrate how the UK’s private sector is innovating and growing across a diverse range of industries.
The final shortlist was drawn from a record 700 nominations representing private businesses across the length and breadth of the UK.
It is another strong year for UK manufacturing success with the shortlist celebrating the achievements of more than 15 manufacturers ranging from organic baby food, contact lenses, medical devices, chemical seals, tableware and digital sound equipment to name a few.
Kevin Oakes, CEO of Stoke on Trent tableware firm Steelite International and Debbie Morgan, of Wollaston-based Dr Martens have been shortlisted in the CEO of the Year and Private Business Woman of the Year categories respectively.
Headquartered in Northampton, Briggs & Forrester has been shortlisted in the Employer of the Year category; Telford-based Oaklands Farm Eggs and Coventry-based Rigby Group, owned by Sir Peter Rigby, have been shortlisted in the Family Business of the Year category.
Dr Martens has been shortlisted alongside Coalville-based Logson Group in the Private Business of the Year category; Northamptonshire’s Blue Skies Holdings has been shortlisted in the Social Enterprise of the Year category and Loughborough-based Intelligent Energy Ltd, which develops modular, low carbon fuel cell systems, has been shortlisted in the Rising Star of the Year category.
Chris Romans, partner and private business expert at PwC in the Midlands, said: “It is great to see so many Midlands-based companies have been included in this year’s shortlist and this very much reflects the rich seam of private businesses in the region. With over 700 nominations overall this year, just making the shortlist is no mean achievement.
“Private businesses make such an important contribution to the Midlands economy by creating wealth and sustainable jobs for local people. Their continued success will be vital to our region’s economic recovery in the months to come.”
Charlie Hoffman, managing director, HSBC Private Bank (UK) Ltd added: “A challenging economic environment often marks a period of transformation for the UK business landscape and acts as a catalyst for growth for entrepreneurs and small businesses. Private business deserves a bigger voice in the UK as a successful generator of new business opportunities.
“We need to celebrate and showcase the sector’s innovation, optimism and success and these awards are unique in the UK as the only national awards to do this.”
The winners of the Private Business Awards will be announced at a dinner to be held at The Guildhall, London on September 11, 2013.
The full list on nominations is:
Employer of the Year Award
Briggs & Forrester Group Ltd
Express Engineering (Thompson) Ltd
itsu
Pentland
Sheffield Forgemasters
Technology Innovation of the Year Award – Sponsored by Currencies Direct
Apical
Appsense
DiGiCo
Spex Services Ltd
Thunderhead.com
Social Enterprise of the Year Award – Sponsored by Bryson Charitable Group
B4Box Ltd
Blue Skies Holdings
East Belfast Mission
Enabling Enterprise
Street Soccer Scotland
High Growth Business of the Year Award – Sponsored by Equistone Partners Europe Ltd
Big Bus Tours Ltd
BrewDog plc
Opus Energy
Quidco/Maple Syrup Media Ltd
Sauflon Pharmaceuticals Ltd
Exporter of the Year Award – Sponsored by HSBC Commercial
CDE Global Ltd
Fever-Tree Ltd
Owen Mumford Ltd
Petroleum Experts Ltd
Ulster Carpet Mills (Holdings) Ltd
Rising Star of the Year Award
Fourfront Ltd
Intelligent Energy Ltd
Jamie’s Italian Ltd
Moo.com/Moo Print Ltd
Spex Services Ltd
CEO of the Year Award
Paul Lindley/Ella’s Kitchen
Peter Bruce/Entier
Angus Thirlwell/Hotel Chocolat
Graham Honeyman/Sheffield Forgemasters International Ltd.
Kevin Oakes/Steelite International
Private Business Woman of the Year Award – Sponsored by PwC
Debbie Morgan/Dr. Martens/R Griggs Group Ltd
Karen Hamling/ITH Pharma Ltd
Nica Burns/Nimax Theatres Ltd
Angela Rushforth/ The Ridgeons Group Ltd
Janis Sinton/TasteTech Ltd
Family Business of the Year Award
Allied Vehicles Ltd
Oaklands Farm Eggs Ltd
Owen Mumford Ltd
Rigby Group Ltd
Wates Group Ltd
Private Business of the Year Award – Sponsored by HSBC Private Bank Ltd
AES Engineering Ltd
Dr. Martens/R Griggs Group Ltd
Euromonitor International Ltd
Logson Group
Walkers Shortbread Ltd
