Royal seal of approval is fitting
Queen’s Award for brass parts maker and host of other Midland companies
AHISTORIC family-run designer and manufacturer of luxury brass fittings in Birmingham is among a host of companies from across the region to be recognised with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise.
Armac Martin has received a Queen’s Award for International Trade because of its work in boosting overseas sales, in particular growing its network of dealer showrooms and a focus on North America.
Now in its 56th year, The Queen’s Awards recognise business excellence across four different categories – international trade, innovation, sustainable development and promoting opportunity – with recipients permitted to fly the Queen’s Awards flag at their main office and use the emblem on their marketing material for five years.
In recent years, Duddeston-based Armac Martin has doubled the number of countries it exports to and now reaches almost 50 different territories with key markets in the US, Canada, Australia, China, Norway and New Zealand.
Overseas sales have grown by 42 per cent over the three-year application period for the award and the proportion of sales exported has increased to 49 per cent of total
sales. The company was founded in 1929 by Harold McGrail and is now run by the fourth generation of the family, employing 110 staff.
It produces more than 40 different hardware collections such as hooks, handles, knobs and picture frames for use in various different domestic settings including the kitchen and bathroom.
Commercial director Richard McGrail said: “We are thrilled that
Armac Martin has been honoured with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade.
“As the most renowned British business award a company can receive, this is an incredible accolade for the whole team and is a real testament to the skilled work and dedication of each and every individual.
“Despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, we are delighted to
have successfully scaled the business to now ship over 50 per cent of our orders overseas.
“Having developed our international trade significantly over the past few years, we feel both humbled and proud to be recognised for this sustained growth and commercial success. Looking to the future, I’m confident that we’ll continue to grow and thrive in the coming weeks and months.”
A total of 25 awards were handed out to companies across the wider West Midlands region including Birmingham-based KPM Marine which specialises in designing and manufacturing safety critical products for the marine and automotive industries such as shock-mitigating seating to protect mariners from spinal and brain injuries.
Also recognised was rising Coventry firm Boxraw, which makes sportswear and equipment for boxing, and Staffordshire outfit Biocomposites which won two awards.
The company manufactures specialist medical products for use in hip and knee replacements which aim to reduce infection rates.
Across the UK, 232 businesses have received the honour for 2022.
Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenants will be presenting the awards to businesses locally throughout the year.
Small Business Minister Paul Scully MP said: “This country is renowned for its entrepreneurial achievements and there is no greater showcase for it than The Queen’s Awards.
“It’s vital we celebrate the success of our businesses and recognise the contributions they make to communities across the country.
“I congratulate this year’s winners for their hard work and commitment over the last year and I wish them every success for the future.”