Industrialist Stewart Towe CBE wins Ambassador of the Year award at the Business Masters
HADLEY Group boss Stewart Towe CBE won the Ambassador of the Year Award at last night’s TheBusinessDesk.com West Midlands Business Masters Awards at Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham.
The decision was made unanimously by the awards’ judging panel.
The award is presented to an individual who has, beyond the call of duty, ‘batted’ for this region and in so doing helped to increase its attractiveness as a place from which to do business.
TheBusinessDesk.com editor Andy Coyne told the audience at last night’s black tie awards dinner: “Under Stewart Towe’s leadership Hadley Industries, a steel products manufacturer, has gone from strength to strength with turnover now in the hundreds of millions and massive success in the export markets through overseas manufacturing facilities.
“This doesn’t happen without a lot of hard work but despite that our winner has found time for an extraordinary amount of extra-curricular activity on behalf of the region’s business community.
“It’s hard to keep up but amongst other things our man has been or continues to be Business in the Community’s Regional Ambassador for the West Midlands, chair of Business in the Community (West Midlands Region), High Sheriff of the West Midlands and a patron of the Prince’s Trust.
“He has also chaired the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership since December 2010 and is governor or pro-chancellor at a number of local schools, colleges and universities.”
Accepting the award on behalf of his father (pictured left), Ben Towe – deputy managing director of Hadley Group – said: “I know Stewart will be thrilled to receive this award.
“He sets out what he wants to achieve and then carries others along with him, encouraging them every step of the way.
“But he also knows it’s important to delegate and to allow others the opportunity to show their worth.”
He said his father was also someone who gives 110% in everything he does – both personally and professionally. And yet he gives no sign of wanting to slow down and take it easy.
He said his father was also proud to have been born and bred in the Black Country and never passed up an opportunity to promote the area to whoever he happened to be with.
“He thinks the West Midlands is a real powerhouse but one that has been quiet for too long – but no longer. He wants it to rise up and become the proper economic powerhouse it truly is,” he added.
The awards were sponsored by Birmingham Airport, Higgs & Sons, Hotel La Tour and MHA Bloomer Heaven.
