Queen’s Award honours for six enterprising firms
SIX businesses in Wales are among the 205 winners announced in the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise today.
The awards were created following the recommendation of a committee chaired by the Duke of Edinburgh in 1965 and were originally known as the Queen’s Awards to Industry.
In Wales Quay Pharmaceuticals, Snowdonia Cheese Company, Direct Healthcare Group, Coppice Alupack and Tomoe Valve were all recognised for their excellence in international trade, while Cenin Holdings was selected for its work in sustainable development.
Cenin Holdings, based near Bridgend, makes low carbon construction products including cement, fly ashes and ground stabilisation products. It mostly uses sustainable products and renewable energy generated on-site and has worked with Cardiff University’s SOLCER house project, developing cutting edge green energy.
Cenin was recognised with a Queen’s Award for Sustainable Development as a small local business with an outstanding impact on cutting emissions, pioneering low carbon manufacturing and environmental sustainability.
Tomoe Valve, which employs more than 40 members of staff at its Newport site, designs and manufactures high quality butterfly valves.
The firm’s managing director Ikutaro Yamamoto said: “We are really pleased to have this prestigious award which is a recognition of our performance, and it is a reflection of the hard work, teamwork and diligence of all employees who have worked to achieve this fantastic result.
“We look forward to further growth with exports and expanding our contribution towards the Welsh and UK economy.”
Direct Healthcare Group was recently named among the top three businesses on the Sunday Times BDO Profit Track 100 league table, which ranks the private companies with the fastest-growing profits over their last three years.
The Caerphilly-based group employs more than 600 people and is a global leader in the manufacture and provision of medical devices, products and solutions for patients with limited mobility.
It provides pressure care management, moving and handling equipment, specialist seating and bathroom
safety solutions for patients.
The company’s total overseas sales have grown by 730% in the past six years.
Graham Ewart, CEO at Direct Healthcare Group, said: “I am delighted that we have been awarded a second Queen’s Award today for our international trade. In just 10 years, we’ve grown from a company with one product, solely focussed on the UK, to one with a portfolio of products and trading in more than 40 countries across the globe.
“The past 12 months has seen us enter an array of different markets and we are now a truly international group with pan-European operations. Over the next 12 months we will continue to focus on this geographical expansion to provide better healthcare outcomes for those in need, wherever they live.
“This recognition is another reminder of the valuable work we do in our sector and I’m particularly proud of our team who have worked tirelessly over the year.”
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: “The past year has been a tough time for many businesses across the UK, which is why it is more important than ever to celebrate the achievements of our wealth creators and recognise the contributions they make to our communities.
“In the last 12 months, British businesses showed the entrepreneurial spirit that this country is renowned for, continuing to drive social mobility, find new markets to export to and produce innovative products and services.
“I congratulate this year’s winners and I wish every business that applied for an award this year every success in the future as we build back better from the pandemic.”