EIGHTEEN Scottish businesses have received a new Queen’s Award for Enterprise. In the 50th anniversary of the awards, six firms were recognised for innovation and thirteen for international trade.
Inchinnan based Peak Scientific Instruments was one of just five businesses from the UK total of 243 that was named in both categories.
Its Peak Protected Complete Service Plan guarantees an on-site engineer call-out anywhere in the world for the firm’s gas generator clients in hospitals, laboratories, oil rigs and at major international sporting events. The international trade Queen’s Award is the company’s fifth.
The Scottish winners come from a range of industries including oil and gas, seafood, healthcare, technology and architecture.
Naming the winners, Businesses Secretary Sajid Javid said the UK was a country full of exciting and innovative businesses that deserve to be celebrated. “Whether you’re a disruptive start-up making life easier for your customers or a large company with a blockbuster product, these awards recognise your contribution to enterprise,” he said.
Among the innovation winners is Vascutek, a Renfrewshire company picking up its eighth Queen’s Award. Its Thoraflex Hybrid is a surgical graft used to treat thoracic aortic disease. The Scottish-made device removes the need for a second major operation to treat the condition. It is thought to have already helped to save the lives of more than 1,400 patients around the world.
Paul Holbrook, President and CEO of Vascutek said he was honoured the firm had been recognised. “We’ve a broad range of surgical graft products. This is our latest and we’re keen to introduce it to more patients across the world.”
Edinburgh-based food packaging company Vegware was given an innovation award for its compostable foodservice packaging, which was created with a view to lead a drive towards zero waste in foodservice.
The company has seen 57 per cent growth on average over the last three years and managing director Joe Frankel said the last year of trading had been “pretty electric” He added that The Queen’s Award helps to solidify its position as a key part of the foodservice disposables industry. “We hope it helps give larger operators confidence as we roll out new products and services,” he said.
In the International Trade category, architecture practice Kettle Collective has been awarded for its substantial growth, sustained since its foundation just three years ago.
Founded in Edinburgh by Tony Kettle and Colin Bone, the practice now has studios in Edinburgh and Dubai with a headcount of around 35 and local partners in Moscow, St Petersburg, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Beirut.
Kettle Collective is working on a number of high profile projects in the UK, Russia, including the Lakhta Centre in St Petersburg, which is the new headquarters for Russian energy giant Gazprom. When complete, the 462 metre tower will be the tallest in Europe.
Managing director Colin Bone said the award was huge for the company. “In the markets we operate in this will strengthen our credentials. In places like the Middle East and Russia the Royal Family is highly respected, so it gives us major kudos.”
Mr Bone said the company would continue its growth push in 2016, with a particular focus on the Middle East, where it has opened a Dubai office, and in the UK.
Arbroath firm Interplex is among the International Trade winners. As the result of implementing a five year plan, the manufacturing firm has turned a trading loss into profit, tripling sales to £17m and increasing overseas trade by 360 per cent.
Stephen Barlow, Managing Director of Interplex PMP, says that the successful turnaround has also helped to secure and create more jobs in Arbroath. “Since I joined the company in 2010, we’ve seen employee numbers increase from 80 people on a three day week to over 170 staff with the capacity to work 24/7.”
Entier, an independent catering and hotel service provider to the on and offshore oil and gas industry, won an international trade award for its growth in overseas sales of 167 per cent over the last three years. The Aberdeen company operates 35 offshore units in 23 countries. Employee numbers in the UK grew from 136 to 391 in three years alongside an increase in export to total sales from 16 per cent to 35 per cent.
This week saw the company sign a new contract with Technic for catering and hotel services onboard 11 Technip vessels.
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