Inaugural King’s Awards for Enterprise honour West Midlands firms
Ten West Midlands companies have been honoured in King Charles’ inaugural King’s Awards for Enterprise.
The King’s Awards for Enterprise are designed to recognise and encourage outstanding achievements in the fields of Innovation, International Trade, Sustainable Development and Promoting Opportunity through social mobility.
The Award programme, now in its 57th year, is the most prestigious business award in the country, with successful businesses able to use the esteemed King’s Awards Emblem for the next five years.
The Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands, Sir John Crabtree OBE, said the achievements of the businesses were inspiring.
“Each of the recipients of the King’s Award for Enterprise has an extraordinary story to tell and their achievements are remarkable and a testimony to the West Midlands’ inherent entrepreneurial culture.
“The recipients include those that are long-established who have diversified and transformed themselves to meet changing markets and those who have developed innovative techniques to meet the needs of business and consumers. On behalf of the West Midlands, I congratulate them all.”
Heading the list is Melissa Snover, CEO of Rem3dy Health and TheBusinessDesk.com’s Leader of the Year 2023 for the West Midlands.
Melissa Snover
Rem3dy’s first consumer brand, Nourished, has won the award in the Innovation category this year. Nourished were the first in the world to use 3D printing to create truly personalised nutrition.
The firm has developed a set of proprietary patented technologies which combines with science-backed nutrients and an intelligent logic recommendation algorithm, resulting in unique 3D printed nutrient gummies suited specifically to an individual’s lifestyle and goals.
Snover told TheBusinessDesk.com: “We are incredibly honoured to receive the inaugural King’s Award for Enterprise.
“R&D and Innovation are at the heart of everything we do and we invest deeply to continuously push the boundaries in manufacturing and the customisation of health. To see our work recognised by His Majesty The King in this way means the world to the team and I.”
Worcestershire-based Forest Garden has also been honoured in the Innovation category.
Founded in 1983, Forest Garden, which employs more than 500 people is the leading manufacturer and distributor of wooden buildings, fencing and structures for residential and agricultural gardens.
By fully automating the manufacturing process, the company has reduced panel production time by almost 70%, improved production margins, and enabled their UK-sourced and manufactured products to compete with imports.
Forest Garden CEO, Guy Grainger, said: “Whilst innovating the manufacture of fence panels may not seem particularly exciting, in our sector it has been nothing short of revolutionary.
“To have successfully introduced a new panel suitable for automation into our market, alongside replacing a traditional manufacturing process with ground-breaking high-speed automation, are achievements of which we are particularly proud.”
The final West Midlands Innovation winner was Protecta Pet.
The family-ran business founded by Eve and Simon Davies, offers preventative cat care which enables cats to access a safe, outdoor territory and cat owners to experience total peace of mind.
ProtectaPet have designed more than 50 cat-fencing products and have a portfolio of patents and unique designs. Their modular cat fencing solutions are customisable to each customer’s garden layout, with both DIY product and professional installation options available.
Dr Eve Davies, co-founder and director told TheBusinessDesk.com: “We are honoured and delighted to receive The King’s Award for Enterprise – an internationally recognised endorsement for our product.
“At ProtectaPet, we have all worked so hard to advance attitudes to cat companionship and educate our audience on the proven benefits of controlled cat territories.
“ProtectaPet is a result of many great minds coming together to revolutionise care for cats and I’d like to take the opportunity to thank all the early adopters of our cat fencing solutions and those who have promoted us on this journey from vets, charities, universities and owners.
“In the UK alone, we have kept more than 30,000 cats enriched and safe”.
Four West Midlands firm’s secured an award under the International Trade category.
Metalwork technology manufacturer AMOB UK has seen its overseas sales achieve an overall growth of 264% from 2019-2022.
The company receives The King’s Award for International Trade for Outstanding Short Term Growth in overseas sales over the last three years.
Thomas Wood, Managing Director of AMOB UK, told TheBusinessDesk.com: “The exceptional effort of the entire staff of AMOB UK over the past few years has been immeasurable, and this achievement is testament to that hard work. We are privileged to be recognised with this award.”
AMOB UK says its goal is to continue to develop innovative, effective, and solution-driven technology, and continue to share this equipment with companies worldwide, helping them develop their own businesses to be the best they can be.
Sonihull, based in Coventry, has been recognised in the International Trade category for its industry-leading technology which emits ultrasonic soundwaves to safely prevent marine algae, weeds and molluscs from colonising ocean-going vessels and structures like ships and wind farms.
Its success has seen its turnover grow 40% year-on year, leading to an overseas expansion with new Abu Dhabi offices and laboratory in 2020, a USA office in Boston in 2022, and a Vancouver and EU base opening in 2023.
Currently, Sonihull operates on around 1% of the world’s commercial vessels, but it claims if it was on every merchant vessel in the world – global ship emissions could be reduced by between 160 and 408 million tonnes of CO2 every year.
Darren Rowlands, CEO of Sonihull, said: “It is a huge privilege and honour for Sonihull to be named as one of the first companies to receive the new King’s Awards for Enterprise.
“This is the single most prestigious awards for UK business and it is particularly special to receive this acclaim from King Charles, who is well-known for championing climate action.
“Although we’re based in a landlocked city, Coventry has always been a hotbed for innovation and industry and we are proud to centre our operations in the place we call home.
“As a company, we have shown terrific growth over the past few years particularly on the international scene where exports now account for more than 95 per cent of our business, with our innovation helping to change the green credentials of the maritime industry.”
Other recipients include Birmingham-based Ammo, manufacturer of around 10,500 products lines for uniforms and accoutrements for the UK Armed Forces and Commonwealth countries, as well as cadet equipment.
It also supplies tactical equipment internationally and has seen overseas sales grow by 219% over the last three years. It also wins The King’s Award for International Trade for Outstanding Short-Term Growth in overseas sales.
Managing director Tommy Dalman told TheBusinessDesk.com: “I am thrilled Ammo & Company has achieved a King’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade. We feel honoured we are one of only 148 organisations that have been nationally recognised this year. We recently received the much-coveted gold award through the Employers Recognition scheme for supporting the Armed Forces, followed by a visit last month from The Princess Royal. Thank you to our customers, staff and suppliers who made this possible.”
Green Sheep Group located in Stratford-upon-Avon specialises in the design and manufacture of baby nursery products.
Over six years from 2017 to 2021, overseas sales have grown by 1,063% per year and now make up 15% of all sales. It exports to 41 countries. It receives The King’s Award for International Trade for Outstanding Continuous Growth in overseas sales over the last six years.
Roger Allen, Chief Executive of Green Sheep Group commented: “We are absolutely delighted to be recognised with this prestigious award specifically for our endeavours in International Trade. When we started out, we were solely a UK-based company with just UK customers. However, as our product range grew and we launched new innovations, the opportunity for international expansion was evident and six years on, we have grown from selling to retailers in six countries, to selling on a wholesale basis to retailers in 30 countries. Adding in direct consumer customers, we now export to 45 countries around the world.
“The King’s Award is highly regarded on both a national and international platform and will have a significant impact on the future of our business. I am so proud of our team and all the work they put into the business – this is their award. Over the past three years our turnover has grown by 142% and our international sales by over 198%, and our Queen’s Award in 2018 undoubtably contributed to our overall success”.
And the fourth West Midlands recipient in the International Trade category is Worcester-based The First Class Pet Company.
Specialising in 100% natural, premium quality UK made pet foods and treats, its Little BigPaw products are distributed
into 45 countries in the Far East, which is its largest market, as well as Europe, Middle East, North and South America.
Overseas sales have grown by 413% over the six-year application period and the proportion of sales exported in the final year of the application was 88% of total sales. It previously received a Queen’s Award for International Trade in 2018.
The company receives The King’s Award for International Trade for Outstanding Continuous Growth in overseas sales over the last six years.
A Birmingham window and door manufacturer that employs some of the city’s most vulnerable people has been honoured with The King’s Award for Enterprise in Promoting Opportunity through social mobility.
Shelforce, which was founded in 1839, employs 30 people in Erdington, of which 75% have a disability. The award recognises Shelforce’s work to provide a place where people with a mental or physical disability can thrive in employment.
The service within Birmingham City Council has led to 30% of the workforce successfully moving to more complex roles and more than 85% diversifying their roles and maximising their potential by developing skills in manufacturing.
Howard Trotter, the company’s Business Manager said: “It is an unbelievable honour to receive the King’s Award for Enterprise in the Promoting Opportunity category.
“To be recognised by the highest honour in UK business,
renowned across the world is an incredibly proud moment for Shelforce and we are even more incredibly honoured that we have been recognised in the first ever King’s Award for Enterprise and in the year of the King’s coronation.
“Promoting opportunity is the reason behind Shelforce’s continued success and this is fantastic recognition for our incredible team and the processes we have in place. It’s also fantastic news for the local community of Erdington.”
The Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce & Industry, led by CEO Sara Williams also is honoured with The King’s Award for Enterprise in Promoting Opportunity.
The Chamber has served the business communities of the area for over 200 years and now employs 53 staff.
It has led many successful initiatives to support vulnerable and disadvantaged communities to develop entrepreneurial skills, helping them to start businesses or enter employment.
Participants are survivors of domestic abuse, lone parents, long term unemployed, or those with mental health conditions and members of the refugee community.
The numbers receiving support have increased year on year from 29 to 436 people and a third are asylum seekers or refugees. 123 participants started businesses , 70 are employed and others have entered further and higher education.
Williams said: “I am delighted, honoured and incredibly excited to receive The King’s Award for Enterprise.
“Our members know that here at the Chamber, our focus is on community and the belief that business is the bedrock of that community.
“I must thank the whole Chamber family; members, Patrons, Board, Council, Forums, staff, stakeholders and partners. You have all won this award.
“Our businesses employ people, empower people, educate people and work within the community to ensure opportunity for everyone, including the most disadvantaged and vulnerable, and I am proud that Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce is at the heart of this.”
