Patron Russell Finex’s award of Business of the Year is extra special

Russell Finex, winner of the Business of the Year award at West London Chambers of Commerce Business Awards, is a proud Patron of the Chamber. talks to Sarah Dale about the benefits of being a Patron, their recent trade mission and why Mo Farah is going nowhere.

Having the wide business expertise and vast range of contacts at West London Chambers of Commerce means it is a valuable partner

“There are several benefits,” explains Ray, who joined the company when he was 22 and became Managing Director in February 2011.

“Networking is a big one. If we have any issues or need support with anything, we know we can ask the Chamber if they know of someone who can help. It is natural for me to turn to Alan or Sally. For example, they put us in touch with a solicitor, who is also a Chamber member, when we were dealing with an HR issue, and they also helped us with finding an architect for our building development and have liaised with the council on our behalf for planning applications. We do a lot of exporting, and the Chamber also helped us secure a partnership with a company to provide certificates of origin.”

A team from Russell Finex also attended a trade mission with the Chamber to Casablanca in Morocco in November, which included 10 people from six companies.

“It was an interesting and useful trip to meet potential new clients,” says Ray.

“It has been an area that we have been looking at for our next steps, so the trip fell at a good time. They are organising another trip, this time to the Far East, and if the destination and timing works for us, we will go.”

At the West London Chambers of Commerce Business Awards, held at Gtech Community Stadium last November, Russell Finex was named Business of the Year. The firm has been a supporter of the West London Chambers of Commerce Business Awards for several years, sponsoring the drinks reception. They are also proud supporters of an annual charity golf event with the prize named the Russell Finex Trophy in their honour.

“It’s a massive growth market and it’s where we have focused our attention in recent years,” he says.

“There are always different challenges when running a business. The National Insurance increase for employers has caused a substantial extra cost to us, which will have to come from our profits. There will also be other challenges from changes in HR legislation, as well as the tariffs on exports to the US. Because the news changes every day, it makes it incredibly difficult to plan.”

In the UK, the company has more than 200 employees with 700 staff members across its global offices in the US, Belgium, China, India and Brazil.

“To win Business of the Year is excellent; it is recognition from an outside organisation of all the hard work of the employees here,” says Ray.

“We have won multiple awards in the West London Chambers business awards over the years and in 2024 we were most proud to be awarded the coveted Best Business of the Year”

Russell Finex, which was established in 1934, manufactures a range of products from vibrating sieves and screeners to self-cleaning liquid filters and additive manufacturing handling solutions. Over the past few years, they have focused on the additive manufacturing industry, previously called 3D printing, providing products for aerospace engines and the medical sector.

It has expanded its Feltham head office by buying a couple of nearby units and a small piece of land, providing car parking and electrical charging points. The iconic Mo Farah mural on the side of the building, which was a well-known landmark in west London, had to go. However, a new wall complete with murals of both Mo Farah and the late Freddie Mercury has been installed and will be officially unveiled by the popular athlete in May.

It has a range of high-profile clients including NASA, Nestlé, Pfizer, P&G and Kellogg’s and a turnover of £47 million. The firm’s success, says Ray, is rooted in its approach to recruiting and retaining employees through a profit-share bonus and a noncontributory final salary pension scheme. Russell Finex is currently recruiting for a range of roles including Quality Control Engineers, Mechanical and Electronic Engineers, Polishers Welders/Fabricators and back-office employees. Apprenticeship opportunities are also available.

For more information on current vacancies, email: careers@russellfinex.com