This year’s Stockport Business Awards proved to be a fantastic success as they recognised the achievements of the town’s biggest and brightest companies.
340 of Stockport’s leading business figures attended the event at the Hallmark Hotel to celebrate the 2013 winners and help to raise money for this year’s chosen charity – The Weekend Day Centre for Dementia Care.
Andrew Baggott, MD of Clarke Nicklin Chartered Accountants, sponsors and organisers of the Awards, said:
“After the success of last year’s inaugural event the Stockport business community has really embraced the awards. Entry numbers were up on last year and tickets for the awards evening quickly sold out so we knew it would be a great night, and we weren’t disappointed.”
Stockport Business Awards winners 2013
Innovation and Design Winner: Frederic Robinsons
Judges’ comments:
“Robinsons has shown a lot of innovation over the last 12 months, both with diversification on products – the Trooper and Simon Rimmer ranges are great examples – and with the innovative use of the brand new brewery and visitors centre for tours, events and lunches.”
Highly commended:
- Cami Confidential
- Dyer Environmental
Business Person Winner: Tracy Mort, Grace Cole
Judges’ comments:
“Tracy Mort started this business from scratch after her previous employers went into administration. She has since led the business to massive growth, with a good ecommerce website selling bath, body and beauty products. She also exports to over 70 countries and has consistent year on year financials.”
Highly commended:
- Alison Bowcott McGrath, Bo-Concepts
- Nick Rose, Midshire Business Systems
Employer of the Year Winner: Trolex
Judges’ comments:
“Trolex has a very impressive overall business and a huge commitment to people development. The firm focuses highly on staff wellbeing and has great employee retention.”
Highly commended:
- Jobwise
- Rowlinson Knitwear
Indie Retailer Winner: Classic Celebration Cakes
Judges’ comments:
“CC Cakes is a niche business that is always growing. It offers something different, which makes it stand out from the crowd! The recent expansion into new premises, and taking on staff and apprentices have all contributed to business success.”
Highly commended:
- Broadstone Mill Shopping Outlet
- Bramhall Bakery
Most Responsible Company Winner: Dyer Environmental Controls
Judges’ comments: “Dyer combines innovative and environmental technologies to create good solutions for customers, and has a strong commercial approach in delivering this. The firm believes in investment in the future and has seen positive return from this.”
Highly commended:
- Millar Landscapes
- NXP Semiconductors
International Trade Winner: Frederic Robinsons
Judges’ comments: “Robinsons has been really successful with export in the past year, particularly due to some great new products and marketing campaigns such as its Trooper ale with Iron Maiden. It has exported to 20 new countries in 2013 alone and now exports to around 34 countries worldwide.”
Highly commended:
- Grace Cole
- ParkCloud
Training Young People Winner: Trolex
Judges’ comments: “Trolex is committed to being a good employer. The team seems genuinely interested in investing in young people and helping them to develop. They demonstrate this by offering fantastic apprenticeships, training and coaching.”
Highly commended:
- Jacobs Engineering
- DJS Research
Most Promising Young Biz Winner: Minted Melon Designs
Judges’ comments: “Minted Melon Designs stands out as a great business which was started by university leavers and has been built into a successful company. The team are starting to win good contracts and employ other people and the future looks promising for them.”
Highly commended:
- Pioneer IT Connections
- Marsec International
Business of the Year Up to £1m Winner: Tinies Childcare North West
Judges’ comments: “Tinies Childcare NW has had a lot of success in a short period of time. The owner, Fiona, has used her expertise to grow her business through a recession. She is setting a great example for other local businesses with her achievements and commitment to job creation.”
Highly commended:
- STE Waste
- Tangent Design
Business of the Year £1-5m Winner: Resin Surfaces Limited
Judges’ comments: “Resin Surfaces is a great example of a traditional manufacturing company that has improved performance by diversifying into different markets. It has a huge range of innovative products, many of which it exports out of Stockport.”
Highly commended:
- Pioneer Digital Solutions
- Active Business Communications
Business of the Year over £5m Winner: APEM
Judges’ comments: “APEM has a remarkable success story, when recent radical diversification has been vital in business growth. Its continued investment into staff and assets has seen APEM grow into a nationwide business with an overseas presence. Its overall business excellence is clear.”
Highly commended:
- Frederic Robinsons
- Rowlinsons Knitwear
Special Winner: Wayne Jones, senior vice president of MAN Diesel & Turbo UK
Wayne Jones became managing director of MAN Diesel & Turbo UK in October 2005, just six months after joining the business. He took the helm at a difficult time. In 2004 the company had posted losses of more than £40 million and there were severe problems within key areas of the business.
The task for Wayne was to lead a significant restructuring of the firm and return profitability within three years. He achieved this two years ahead of schedule, with MAN Diesel posting accounts in January 2007 with a net profit in excess of £9 million.
Since that date, the company has shown profitable growth in all areas of its business and, more importantly, has enabled a large global business to retain its presence and provide employment in the Stockport Borough. This would not have been possible without Wayne’s drive and leadership.
Wayne is also extremely passionate about re-instating and improving apprenticeship and graduate programmes to ensure a progressive approach within his industry. He has dedicated a lot of his time to form strong links with both the education sector and local councils to develop opportunities for young people and encourage a career in engineering.
Amongst his achievements in this area, Wayne has been instrumental in re-establishing the employment of apprentices at Man Diesel & Turbo UK. Apprentices now account for 10 per cent of the UK workforce. Over the next few years it is the intention to employ over 50 apprentices across the UK sites.
Alongside his day job Wayne is the current chair of the Stockport Economic Alliance, he chairs the Employment Ownership Skills Board, has been appointed as the non-executive director of the SK1 Technical School and has chaired the Participatory Budget Scheme at Stockport Town Hall.
Judges’ comments:
“Wayne Jones has made a huge contribution to Stockport business and is a very worthy winner of this award.”