Bullion dealer takes gold medal at IoD West Midlands Awards
THE IoD West Midlands awarded its own gold medal to a local entrepreneur by naming him its Director of the Year.
Rob Halliday-Stein founded BullionByPost in 2008 with an initial investment of just £10,000 after he spotted a gap in the market for supplying gold and silver bars and coins direct to the public. The company’s turnover now exceeds £120m.
IoD regional chairman Jason Wouhra praised Rob’s entrepreneurial vision, which he said was a lesson to everyone who had an idea for a business and wanted to take it to market.
“Rob saw a gap in the market and went for it. The UK economy’s future growth depends on exciting new businesses such as Rob’s entering the fray, employing local people and putting down plans for future growth,” he said.
“He has done phenomenally well, entering a complex market with a clear strategy and a determination to succeed. He is a worth winner of this prestigious award.”
Halliday-Stein was also named Young Director of the Year.
Other winners at the awards were Kevin Watson, managing director of Amadeus, the corporate catering arm of the NEC, who took home the Director of the Year award in the large company category, and Dale Parmenter, owner of Worcestershire-based communications business DRP Group, who took the same award for SMEs.
The leading director in a family business was Helen Weston, of Herefordshire-based cider producer Westons Cider.
Tim Jones, head of employment law at Brierley Hill law firm Higgs & Sons, won the corporate social responsibility category while Ann Rivera won the not-for-profit category for her work at The Trident Social Investment Group.
The NEC’s Paul Thandi was rewarded with the Chairman’s Award for his leadership of a business that generates more than £2bn for the West Midlands economy.
