12 East Midlands companies named as Queen’s Awards winners
Twelve East Midlands companies are celebrating this morning after landing Queen’s Awards for Enterprise.
The firms are part of a cohort of 220 firms from across the UK who have been recognised in the four categories of International Trade, Innovation, Sustainable Development and Promoting Opportunity.
The winners in the East Midlands are: Leicester-based weighing systems firm EEC Performance Systems (Innovation); Nottingham pharma company XenoGesis (International Trade); Northampton-based Goodwill Solutions (Promoting Opportunity); Valour Consultancy of Grantham (International Trade); manufacture Eminox of Gainsborough (International Trade); Northants food firm Blue Skies Holdings (Sustainable Development); Nottinghamshire textiles solutions firm Embroidery Design Solutions (Innovation); Derby textile business Baltex (International Trade); Derybshire clothing firm David Nieper (Sustainable Development); Marketing Derby (Innovation); Nottingham-based SMS firm Esendex (Innovation); and Northants reusable nappy specialist Bambino Mio (International Trade).
The winners have been speaking to TheBusinessDesk.com.
Catherine Johnson, managing director of Embroidery Design Services, said: “We are incredibly honoured and proud to have won the Queen’s award for Innovation. This recognition is testament to the experienced, talented, dedicated team we have at EDS. The past few years have been a busy and exciting period in the company’s history and with this prestigious award we hope this will be a springboard for further success in both UK and overseas markets. This award will continue to drive the thrust of the business forward in the unprecedented times that lie ahead.”
John Forkin
Marketing Derby managing director John Forkin, said: “This award reflects a decade focused on our three core company values; to be proactive, make a difference and always think Derby and Derbyshire first. It is prestigious recognition for the hundreds of organisations and thousands of individuals that have made up our dynamic team working together to improve place.
“This collaborative spirit continues through the current Covid-19 crisis and we are already preparing to contribute to the economic recovery that will be required once the health emergency is passed.”
Derek Hodder, director at EEC, said: “The team at EEC Performance Systems is thrilled to win the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Innovation and the prestige that it brings. During the past six years, we have worked with top level motorsport teams to research, develop and test the f-POD fuelling system. Winning the award is acknowledgement and recognition that we have a superior product and as such, have gained a world class reputation. It will support us to further develop the business, venture into new markets and secure new contracts.”
Richard Weaver
Richard Weaver, founder and CEO of XenoGesis, said: “We are honoured to receive the Queen’s Award for Enterprise. This is testament to the team’s hard work and our focus on international growth. The UK’s wealth of scientific knowledge and expertise highlights the attractive proposition this country has to offer, and over recent years we have seen a marked increase in international businesses turning to us, and other UK CROs, for expertise, advice and support.
“This is bittersweet timing for us, following the loss of one of our much-loved and highly-experienced colleagues who sadly passed away this month. As a founding member of XenoGesis, he would have been proud of this achievement and the integral role he played in helping grow the business. This award is received in his memory.”
Guy Schanschieff, founder and managing director of Bambino Mio, said: “We’re absolutely delighted by this achievement. It’s brilliant to see that our continued international success has been recognised and our constant global growth shows that there is a clear trend for the reusable nappy product category.”
“The Queen’s Award recognises the hard work, drive and determination of the entire Eminox team over the past three years,” said Mark Runciman, managing director, Eminox. “Although we are in the middle of unprecedented times, the same team that achieved this success will get us through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. We look forward to celebrating this success together at an appropriate time.”
Blue Skies chief executive Hugh Pile said: “Winning a fourth Queens Award means a huge amount to us, and provides great encouragement and motivation for all our people at what is a very difficult time for the business and indeed the world. But it also comes at a very pertinent moment as, not only are we making an incredible effort to address the extraordinary challenges of the present, but we are also embarking on an ambitious new initiative called ‘Project Phoenix’, which will ensure we will be poised to meet the changing needs of our world in the future.”
He added: “We’re looking at a whole raft of initiatives, such as sustainable packaging, longer-life products and new technologies that can increase efficiencies across our factories, farms and distribution and reduce our impact on the environment. Getting through the present crisis is our priority right now, but we will keep one eye very carefully on the future. That has always been our approach, and that is why we see a very exciting future for this business.”
Craig Foster of Valour Consultancy said: “Winning the Queen’s Award for Enterprise is an incredible achievement for our company and something that we’re immensely proud of. It is the culmination of years of hard work and sacrifice in establishing Valour as a reputable source of business intelligence. The award is also testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff who have consistently delivered outstanding results and often make themselves available at all hours to answer client enquiries.”
