Merry Hill developer wins lifetime achievement award

Roy Richardson, the developer behind the Merry Hill shopping complex, has been recognised with a lifetime achievement award at an influential dinner in the Black Country.

The Nachural Summer Business Ball attracted more than 500 people to Wolverhampton Racecourse, with 10 companies and individuals receiving awards.

Richardson, now 87, co-founded his eponymous business 60 years ago with his twin brother, Don. The family firm is now run by sons Lee, Carl and Martyn, and operates across Europe.

Richardson told the business audience his motto was “never take a ‘no’ as an answer, but persist”, with hard work, an openness to opportunities and a focus on customers having been the building blocks to his successful career.

The business of the year award went to Salisbury Poultry, a poultry processing company based in Bilston.

Tilk Raj Mehta founded the business in 1989, supplying local wholesalers and restaurants, and it has grown to employ 550 people across three staff, generated annual revenues of more than £100m.

Event organiser Ninder Johal, a prominent figure in the Black Country, spoke about the fall out from the general election, stressing the long-term opportunities that remain as long as the UK continued to innovate and add value to their products.

He was also upbeat about the future locally, in the Black Country and the wider West Midlands.

The event, which was sponsored by Skills Support for the Workforce, also raised £4,200 for Wolverhampton charity Promise Dreams.

Award winners:
Business Start up – New Electrical Supplies
Community Excellence – Akaal TV
Regeneration – Wolverhampton Council
Business Person of the Year – Paul Nichol
International and Enterprise – Wing Wah Group
Entrepreneur of the Year – Paul Lalli
Businesswoman of the Year – Angela Bir
Hospitality – Mount Hotel
Business of the Year – Salisbury Poultry
Lifetime Achievement Award – Roy Richardson