Companies across South West honoured with King’s Award
Bristol firm One Big Circle is one of 252 business which has been recognised with a prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise.
Based next to Bristol Temple Meads, One Big Circle was founded in 2017 by four founders, Emily Kent, Barnaby Kent, Ian Packer, and Sam Low, and specialises in Intelligent Video in Critical National Infrastructure.
Now a team of over 50, their innovative AIVR system (Automated Intelligent Video Review) is deployed across the UK railway by Network Rail, Transport for Wales, and multiple operators, and captures imagery and other data to help increase remote inspection capability, ultimately helping the railway run more smoothly and increasing worker safety.
Emily Kent said: “It is a momentous achievement to be awarded the accolade of King’s Award for Enterprise and is a fantastic reflection on our team who have worked so hard on delivering innovation with and for the UK Rail Industry.
“From our first idea and initial deployment, to now being trusted partners of the industry with thousands of people using the technology every day, it really is a real demonstration of how SMEs can thrive in the UK.”
Devon’s Millbrook Dairy received its first King’s Award for international trade.
The dairy was founded in 2019 by David Evans and Kevin Beer, who had worked together for more than 30 years.
“When we started on our journey in 2019, we never thought the business would grow in the way it has and especially during the turbulent trading periods that have been in place,” said Mr Beer and Mr Evans. “For us, winning a King’s Award for Enterprise and being recognised by the highest business awards in the land is a remarkable achievement and a very big honour.”
Bristol carbon capture specialists OCO Technology were also among this year’s South West winners.
The company’s pioneering tech treats air pollution control residues, predominantly from energy from waste facilities, with carbon dioxide gas. The process transforms it into an artificial aggregate which is carbon negative.
Chief executive Steve Greig, said: “We are hugely proud to be awarded such a prestigious honour, cementing our reputation as the clear UK market leader in carbon mineralisation. To have our hard work acknowledged at the highest level is incredibly rewarding and we look forward to flying the flag for British success and the circular economy as we continue to develop our partnerships on the world stage.”
Cornwall skincare brand Made for Life Organics, which was established in 2003, was presented with an award for sustainable development. Amanda Winwood, founder of the Truro-based business, said it was “incredible” to win the accolade.
“We are absolutely delighted to receive the highly prestigious King’s Award for Sustainable Development,” she said. “The Made for Life team have always been very proud of what we have achieved – both in terms of looking after the planet and people’s wellbeing. This award proves that the Kings Awards are inclusive and that you don’t have to be huge in number to be great and change lives for the better.”
There were 17 companies in the South West who won the award.
The winners included Lynher Dairies, Aberlink, Apetito, Aeroglow International, Made For Life Organics, Vi Spring, Atlantis Marine, The Pitchmark Group, Fermoie Limited, Sir Fix-a-Lock, Teagle Machinery, Prima Dental and Millbrook Dairy.
