Top honours for region’s enterprising firms

FIFTEEN Yorkshire companies have been recognised for their achievements in the annual Queen’s Awards for Enterprise.

Entrepreneur Brian Dunsby, principal of Harrogate-based Perlex Associates, was also honoured, winning an award for enterprise promotion.

Mr Dunsby has helped other entrepreneurs to develop their own businesses from scratch and was also recognised for helping to raise the professional standards of small business advisers.

A dozen companies from the region were honoured for international trade, while Leach Colour of Huddersfield and I’Anson Bros, trading as British Horse Feeds, of Ripon, won awards in the innovation category.

And Halifax-based commercial flooring firm InterfaceFLOR, which has set itself targets to cut out any negative impact on the environment through its work, was awarded a prize for sustainable development.

The winners of the international trade award were:

– Advanced New Technologies, of Hull,
– Aquapersions, of Halifax,
– Authentix, of Dunnington, York,
– Europlus Direct, of Saltaire,
– Gripple, of Sheffield,
– Haztec International, of Yeadon, Leeds,
– Huthwaite International, of Wentworth, Rotherham,
– Independent Forgings & Alloys, of Sheffield,
– J Marr (Seafoods), of Hessle, Hull,
– Pace Micro Technology, of Saltaire,
– Sheffield Forgemasters International, of Sheffield,
– Xiros, of Leeds.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said of the awards, which are the UK’s most prestigious prizes for business success: “These firms embody the spirit of enterprise and innovation that is so vital to the future of Britain’s economy.

“Whether large or small, every one of this year’s winning organisations has achieved outstanding success in its field. I also congratulate the individuals receiving awards for enterprise promotion.

“Each of them has played a vital role in helping unlock Britain’s entrepreneurial talent.”