Growing companies earn royal approval

TWO Hyndburn firms are celebrating the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise

2020 - for outstanding growth in international trade.

FPW Axles Ltd and Premier Tooling Systems Ltd were among 220 award winners unveiled in the London Gazette.

Family firm Premier Tooling Systems Ltd, of

Altham Industrial Estate, supplies quality tooling design and manufacture to industries including aerospace, automotive, defence, healthcare and packaging.

Technical director Ian Lane has been in the industry for more than 50 years and said he is “proud to work with this fantastic team”, overseeing a 195 per cent growth in overseas sales in three years.

He added: “Winning this award is a wonderful recognition for the big impact our small family business has had in the industry, by manufacturing and suppling tooling to industries which help to save lives and give comfort throughout the world.”

Based in Huncoat and specialising in the design and manufacture of special purpose vehicle axles, FPW Axles has delivered a 69pc rise in overseas sales over three years.

On the firm’s Facebook page, sales director Scott Taylor said: “We are delighted to have won such a prestigious award. It’s an award for the whole company, all our employees have contributed and we couldn’t have won it without each and every one of them! It’s really great news, at a time when good news is hard to come by.”

Winners of The Queen’s Awards will be invited to attend a special reception at Buckingham Palace later in the year.