E&S Business Awards Meet The Finalists June 2022

THE REGION’SPREMIER BUSINESSAWARDS

TheExpress &Star’sannual business awards finallyreturn on Thursday.

Thestart of thecoronavirus pandemicin2020forcedthe cancellationofthatyear’sawards anditwas not possible to organise awards in 2021 with thecrisisstill at itsheight.

The2022awardshaveseena strong fieldofentries andinthe followingpages we profile allthe finalistsinthe nine categories.

Most of thesponsors have stayed on for2022including oneof2019’swinners in HomeserveFurniture Repairs. MNADigital,Richardson, Carvers, Collins Aerospace, Croweand Higgs have also returned.

Abrand newsponsor for2022isthe BlackCountry &Marches Instituteof Technology.

TheExpress &Staritselfonceagain sponsors theoverall Business of theYear category.

SPONSORS

MEET THE FINALISTS

ASSOCIATE SPONSORS:

SEARCH #ESBA2022 ON TWITTERTOFOLLOW EVENTS AS THEY UNFOLDONTHE NIGHT

EXPRESS &STAR BUSINESSAWARDS 2022

Awards will celebrate business community

TheExpress &Starbusiness awards areone of thehighlights of ouryear. They have always been about celebratingthe success of ourbusiness community. Theimpactofcoronavirus meansthisyear’sawardsare the firstsince 2019 and, given theimpactofthe pandemic,it feelsmoreimportant than ever to celebratethe vitalcontribution ourbusinesses make to the fabric of lifehereinthe Black Countryand Staffordshire.

As ever,weare extremely grateful to allofour sponsors Withouttheir generous support, theseawardswould notbepossible.

Theawardsattracted ahuge response from businesses across theregion, andthe standard of entrieswas exceptional. Every one of our finalistsshoulddeservedly feel very proudto have been shortlistedgiven the standard of competition.

Theawardsceremonyat WolverhamptonRacecourse on June 9promisestobea fitting showcaseofour vibrantbusiness community.

Night of excitementahead as awards are back in real style

Thethrilled anddelighted team from Chasetown housebuilder Cameron Homestookhomethe topaward from thelast Express& Star Business Awards dinner in 2019.

Brierley Hill business Homeserve FurnitureRepairs,who areone of oursponsors this year,enjoyed doubleawardssuccess

Morethan400 guests attended thesell-outawardsdinner which washosted by JohnnyPhillips, the SkySportspresenter andWolves fan.

Thisyear’shostatWolverhamptonRacecourse forthe three-course dinner is comedian andimpressionistAaron James. Hiscareerhighlights includehosting threeworld title fights in LasVegas

Theeveningwillalso be raising fundsfor charityPromise Dreams

JOHN CORSER john.corser@mnamedia.co.uk

It is dedicatedtohelping seriously andterminallyill children and theirfamilies turn theirspecial dreams into realities. Thecharity, launched in 2002,has raised more than £3 millionand delivered 2,000 dreams

Apartfromthe category sponsors thesponsors in 2022 includeWolverhampton Racecourse;Yarrington, whichisstaging theawards andSilvamanGroup.WolverhamptonGrand Theatre is sponsoring thedrinks receptionatthe startof theevening

l Onespecial presentationwas made aheadofthe awards night. VeteranBlackCountry business figure RoyRichardsonreceived theExpress &Star’s firstlifetime achievementaward in theboardroom during alunch receptionfor thebusiness awards sponsors

Cameron Homes were thebusinessofthe year at thelast business awards

Theteam from Handicare Accessibility enjoying thefun at the2019awards

Guests arriving at Wolverhampton Racecourse forthe 2019 awards

RoyRichardsonwith sponsors receiving hislifetimeachievement award

TomGraham speaking in 2019

Thedelightedwinners on stageatthe 2019 awards

E&SEditorMartinWright

SMALL TO MEDIUM SIZED BUSINESS OF THE YEAR 2022

NANTMETALLISATIONLORDCOMBUSTION

Bilston-basedNantLimited is aspecialistinwater safety services andproducts

Clientsinclude leading care home groups, as well as commercialpremises forwell-knownbrandsincludingThe GymGroup, theCafeRouge restaurant groupand luxury hotel chainHarbour Hotels

Thecompany wasformed in 1994 to providetop qualityservice in Legionella controland employs 45 with itsofficesatCrescent House,Broad Street.

LESTERS

Followingamanagement

buyoutNant’sleadership team is transforming atraditional watersafetycompany into an outwardlooking, progressive company. Demand forNant’sexpertise hasgrown as site managers adapt to changes in commercialoccupancy duetoCovid restrictions, whichhas increasedthe risksoflegionellaspreadinginunder usedpremises Despite thechallenges of thepandemicthe management teamlaunchedagas department

Metallisation,which is in its100th year,manufacturesand supplies thermal sprayequipment andsolutions.

Thecompany in PeartreeLane, Dudley,which employs 45,now exports 75 percentofits output to more than 60 countries.

Theactualprocess of thermalspray wasinvented in 1909,but Metallisation constantly develops theproductand technology to create solutionsthat expand thebenefits to its customers

Metallisation invests around £250,000 peryear in research anddevelopment andhas 12 percent of itsfull time stafffocusedpurelyonR&D with many otherstaff working in conjunction with thedepartment to bringdevelopmentstofruition.

Theteamworkonmany projects to improve theefficiency andeffectivenessof theproductsand optimise them forcustomers to use in awidevariety of applicationsacrossmanydifferent industries

Lord CombustionServices is celebratingits 40thanniversary this year

Thegrowing commercial heatingspecialistsnow servemorethan1,000 customers across theregion from itsbaseatSenator House,DudleyRoadEast, Oldbury

Lord,which employs45, is ledbymanagingdirector Stuart Smith, whocelebrated hisown 20thanniversary with thebusiness last month

It wasoriginallyamechanical contractor spe-

cialising in theservice and commissioning of gasand oil-firedequipment. Today thecompany hasdiversified to deliver allaspects of mechanical andelectricalbuildingservices. Lord serves landmark buildings as well as numerous NHS sites, schoolsand other public buildings.

Lord’s recent commercial heatingand hot water projectsall featurethe latest in energy efficiency,such as workfor international cricket venue Edgbaston Stadium.

Lestersisinanideal positionto become oneofthe Black Country andStaffordshire’sfastest-growing manufacturers.

Astrategic expansionplan–focusedoninvestmentintechnology, peopleand complementaryacquisition –will seeitmovetowards a£25 million turnover by 2024, which will create afurther 30 newpositions.

Thecompany in MountRoad, Burntwood, whichformedin1983, currentlyemploys 60

It specialises in bigbox packaging, providingmillionsofcorrugated boxes, largeformatpackaging andheavy-dutycases forthe aerospace,automotive,bikemanufacturing,mailorder andthird-party logisticsindustries.

Thelast12monthshavebeen transformationalfor Lesterswhich hasbeenboosted by asignificant surgeinonline shopping

It hasseensales soar by 120per cent andhas takenon15new staff.

Thegrowthhas been driven by investmentinskillsand,importantly,a£7 million investment programmethathas resulted in theinstallationofa new TCYJumbo Casemaker(the firstofits type to be operationalinthe UK)and theimpending arrivalofa TCYN63colourcasemaker machine

These acquisitionshavehelpedthe companyreduceleadtimes andincrease capacityfroma combined 180boxesper minutetoover 360–essential if it is goingtomeetplanned expansiontargets

Lestersalso hassome of themostknowledgeablepackagingprofessionals in theindustry, with more than 100years’combinedexperience.

It hasalso invested heavilytocreateacustomerservicesteamthatisdedicated to making sure it keepsclients informed of theirorder anddelivery status.Thisisreinforcedbyareal-time data enterprise programmeonthe shopfloor.

Thefamilybusinesshas deep roots in Burntwoodand many of itsteam membershavebeenwithLesters formanyyears

It takesteamdevelopmentseriously andworkclosely with stafftomake sure they areconstantlybeing challenged in theirroles

Some of theteamatNant’sheadquarters in Bilston

MD Stuart Milton,left, withPeteSilcoxand James Newton

MD Stuart Smith at Lord Combustion Services, Oldbury

LestersatMountRoad, Burntwood

APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR 2022

MeganWinup hasprovedarealrolemodel forapprentices sinceshe joined GMSSecurity Services from school

Starting aabusinessapprenticeshe has achieved success throughhardworkand commitmenttodevelop

Meganstarted in thehuman resources department assistingwithgeneral administration,but herrolehas developedsince then andshe hasbecome avital teammember.

During hertimewithGMS shehas not only completedher level2 and3inbusiness administration from 2015 to 2017 butisalso in the finalyearofher business degree at University CollegeBirmingham whichshe started in 2018

In addition to herformallearning, Megan hasalwaystaken herself outofher comfort zone by attendingnetworking events and representing GMSatmeetingsinorder to push herbusinessskillsand puttheminto practice

Within 12 monthsofemployment, Megan wassolelyresponsible formanaging theHRscreening andvetting process. She processed everynew starterthrough avery stringentprocess,requiringstrictattention to detail

In ordertofurther herpersonaldevelopment Meganspent 12 months working in the financedepartmentwhere shelearnt anew skill setand managedthe accounts receivable andpayable function within the department.Duringher time in accounts, Meganimplemented anew processfor em-

ployees to book holidaywhich sped up the processofapprovalfor employees andreduced errors

Meganhas made asignificant impact to GMS. Last year,the owners acquired the WarrensHallRidingSchoolatTividaleand movedGMS head office there. This meant anotherchangeinrolefor Meganwhich involvedmovingbackintothe HR teamto manage thecompliancetasks whilerunning the office function forthe riding school

Apprentice JasmineMasseyhas made a substantial contribution to law firm FBC Manby Bowdler.

Shejoinedthe firm in George Street, Snow Hill, Wolverhampton, in July last year as abusinesssupport apprentice and hasbeenresponsible fordeveloping anew firm-wideprocess

The firm,which hasofficesinWolverhampton, Walsall, Redditch andShropshire, is committed to providingcareeropportunitiesfor young people acrossa varied rangeofapprenticeshippositionsand believethatpeople areits greatest asset.

Jasminejoinedasdirectsupport to the head of newbusiness. During hertimewith FBCManby Bowdler, whichincludedbeing inducted throughapandemic, Jasminehas made an impressive impact with thecreation andimplementationofanew annual legalreviewprocess,resulting in significant improvements in theefficiency andeffectivenessofthe processfor staffand clients alike.

Jasmineisverycommitted to thelearningsideofher apprenticeship.She is well aheadonher trainingprogramme andis dueto finish theprogramme inside theexpectedtimescale.

Shewas instrumental in creating the brand-newprocess, includingresearch, design andimplementation,tostreamline andimprove efficiencies in the firm’s annual legalreviewprocess.She presented her idea to the firm’s managing director who then gave it thegreen light. Sinceitwas

implemented,Jasmine’sworkhas made a massive positive impact on theday-to-day procedureofthe ALRwhich is nowfar more efficient. Clients arenow identified as part of theadministrative process.

Becauseofthe strong aptitude shedemonstrates, FBCManby Bowdlerissupporting Jasmineinher development to become akey individual in the firm’s HubLegal administrative team, whichistestament to theconfidence they have in hercapability

MatthewSmith hasmadeabig impact in ashorttimeatcommercial heatingspecialists Lord Combustion Services

He joined thecompany in Dudley Road East,Oldbury,asanapprentice in 2019 with littleworkexperience

As part of hisapprenticeshiphe hascompleted an HNCinbuilding services engineering, plus an NVQ in thesamediscipline. He hasnow enrolled on athree-yeardegreein building services engineering.

He mixedclassroom sessions with home learning andonthe job shadowing, always willing to getinvolvedand be helpfultocolleagues as he learns.Hehas astrong work ethicand acommitmenttobettering himselfthrough learning, whichhas impressed colleagues at alllevels.

Just 21,Matthew hasshownmaturity by working throughout the challengingpandemicperiodwhiledeveloping hisunderstanding of thebusiness andachieving formal qualificationsalong theway.Matthew hasalso completed an IOSH health andsafetyqualification

In Januaryhetookonthe positionofcontracts engineer as oneofa series of promotionsonthe back of astrong 2020 performancebythe companywhich serves more than 1,000 customersacrossthe West Midlands

Matthewhas shownhehas thetechnical engineeringskillsand business understandingtodevelop into avaluedteamleader.

He works at alevel well beyond theusualapprenticestandard, having shownadaptability,resilience andthe know-how to deliverahigh qualityof servicewhileensuringeachclient’saccountbringsaprofitablereturnfor the business

Matthewhas shownpromise anddeliveredthe impact to suggesthewill continue to develop.

He sums up hisresponsibilities:“Icarry outsitesurveys, quoting forwork, planning projects includingaccessneeded anddeliveries. Ialso do labour planning to make sure we have gotthe jobs organisedfor theentireweek. At theend of themonth Idothe invoicing.”

Megan WinupatGMS Security Services

JasmineMassey at FBC ManbyBowdler

MatthewSmith at theOldbury offices

BUSINESS OF THE YEAR 2022

JL DRINKS

Fast growingpremium spiritscompany JL Drinks is on course to increase employment to at least30by theend of 2022

JL Drinks,based on Pensnett TradingEstate, Kingswinford,was only started in 2019 andbythe start of this year wasemploying adozen

It createsand sellsvodka,whiskey andgin andhas alreadyextended its market from theUKtoAustralia, NewZealand andCanada.

JL Drinks wasfounded by husband-and-wifeBaz andSunny Kooner,who have ayoung family of four girls.

Sunny said:“We createdthe idea of Jatt LifeDrinks whilst on holiday in DubaiinDecember 2019 as we spottedagap in themarket foranew exciting spiritsbrand to come in and

USPSTEELS

be innovativewithboth flavours and branding.Weworkedonour business plan andproduct development extremely hard forthree months untilwehad our firstproduct in our hand in March2020.

“Westarted tradingour premium alcoholone week before lockdown online viaour website.Despite all theoddsstacked againstuswith allthe covidrestrictions, andnavigatingbothbusiness andfamily lifethrough uncertaintimes we managedtogrowour business from husband-and-wife partnershipwith nothingbut just an idea.”

Thebusinessinitially started from asmall office unit buthas now movedtoa15,000sqftpurpose-built unit with adistillingand bottling plantand custom-builtbar

SCHOOL OF CODING

School of Coding is theUK’s largestcodingand computer science educator teachingchildren andadultsacrossthe UK and Europe

Thebusiness, basedonPendefordBusinessPark, Wolverhampton, started in 2017 and hasgrown to employ 28

Pupils aretaughtall about computer science,codingand digitalskills.

School of Coding provides codinglessons online andatits six educationcentres

It specialises in tutoring students doingGCSEs andA-levelsand also delivers Government-fundedcourses to adults lookingtoimprove theirskillsin IT andcomputerscience

Thebusinessworks with five majoruniversities andmore than 150primary andsecondary

schoolsinthe UK. It also delivers42afterschoolclubs andcodingworkshops

School of Coding teaches 2,550 students to code each month andalso provides resourcesfor

SMART BALUSTRADES

GrowingBurntwood business SMARTBalustrades hasincreasedits workforce to 17 since itsformation in 2017

ThebusinessatUnitech House,ProspectRoad, is headed up by brothers Davidand Jonathan Hough.

It designs, manufactures and installs high qualitystainless steeland glass balustradesystems forbothresidential and commerical projects

Thecompany’s plan for2022is to breakthrough the£2million annual turnovermilestone and achieve£200,000 profit.

Allmanufacturing is now done in house andSMART has twofull-timeinstallationteams with brandedvans.

Thecompany hasalso assembled amarketingteamand at thebeginningof2021invested

£30,000 in aspecialistsemi-automatictubedrilling machine whichincreased thespeed at whichitcan producebalustrade postsby50per cent

Thebusinessnow importsall

teachers to teach better.SoC delivered more than 800classes free of charge during thecoronaviruslockdowns

It is also openinganew division –SchoolofCyber Security

Steelstockholder USPSteels has grownrapidly sinceitwas formed in 2016 andbegan tradinginJanuary

2017

TheKingswinfordbusiness,which offers structural steel flat rolled products, nowemploys 38 at Gibbons Industrial Park

Thebusinesswas setupbycurrent ownerGlynCostiganand his team of sixstaff USPstarted with onelarge table basedina smalloffice it shared with USL andinthe firstyeardespatched 34,000tonnes.

Thebusinesshas invested heavily in young people andhas workedwith Nova training to bringapprentices to thebusinessand slowly grow the workforce.Currently sixmembers of itsteamhavesuccessfullycompleted

apprenticeshipsatUSP Steels and earned permanentcontracts.

In 2019 it rebrandedfromUnited Sheet& PlateSteelstoUSP Steels

By theend of 2021 thebusiness wasdespatching 105,000 tonnes of steelfromthe 34,000 four yearsearlier

Thepandemicpresented anew challengeand its firstmajor hurdle

Thebusinesswas supplyingmany keyNHS contractsand it wascritical to offeranimproveddelivery servicesoitbegan despatching on weekends andexpandedoperational hoursto24/7tohelpachieve this

Thesignificant growth delivered improvedprofitability andMrCostiganhas reinvested theprofits back into thebusinessbybuyinganew four-acre site in Kingswinford

of itsstainless steelcomponents directly from overseas rather than purchasing throughUK distributors.Mostofits current workloadismadeupofcommercialcontracts.

Sunnyand BazKooner from Kingswinford-basedJLDrinks

Thecurrent offices of steelstockholder USPSteelsinKingswinford

CEOManny Athwal andoperations manager ClareNortonand team

Brothers Davidand Jonathan Hough at SMARTBalustrades

METALLISATION USPSTEELS

Dudley thermalspray equipmentmanufacturerMetallisation hasits eyes firmly set on freshgrowthasit enters itssecondcentury in business in the BlackCountry.

Thecompany in Peartree Lane,which currentlyemploys 45,now hasadetailedstrategic plan in placewithavisionto grow thebusinesstoachieve annual turnover of £18million to £20m by 2024

From itsstrong historyinthe supply of corrosion protection equipment,its customerbase is increasingly usingMetallisation’s products forengineering coatings,whether it is forsteel coatings appliedbyarc or flame equipment throughtoceramics andcarbide coatings that are appliedbyplasma, high velocity oxygen fuel or lasercladding equipment

Itseasytouse robust andreliable systemsare becoming a naturalchoicefor themanyusersaroundthe world

Plan

Metallisation underwenta management buyout 2014 and in 2019,aftercompleting therepaymentofalarge part of the financing, thedirectors completed astrategicreviewofthe business andput in placethe strategic plan

Theplanwas broken down into stages to allow fortargeted implementationofthe changes over aperiod, this included thestrengtheningofthe senior management team, andtargeted growth from development of new markets.

To assist with theplanned growth thecompany developeda newsales process, implementing acustomerrelationshipmanagementsystemand employing an external salesprofessionalto trainand develop theMetallisation salesteam.

Much of theinitial strategic

workwas carried outbythe boardofdirectors, ledbymanagingdirectorStuartMilton, underthe extremeeconomicclimate of Covidand Brexit

Thecompany’s missionisto provideexcellenceinits products, supportand innovationto expand thebenefits of thermal spraytechnologyfor itscustomers.

Theequipment it supplies is supportedbythe technicalservice team, both in theUKand globally Metallisation constantly develops itsproductsand technology.

Thecompany is proudofbeingatthe forefrontofimproving technologicaladvancesand one of itscorevaluesistocommit to andinvestand grow research

anddevelopment. In orderto achievethisthe companyisinvestingaround£250,000 each year in research anddevelopment

It has12per cent of itsfull time stafffocusedpurelyon R&D.

Thecompany hasbeenonthe same site for100 yearspositively contributing to thelocal economy

During theSecond WorldWar it manufactured components for Spitfires.

It waswiththe same senseof communityspiritthatthe company assisted at thestart of theCovid pandemic in 2020 by partnering with anotherDudley business –Thomas Dudley –to source andproduce masksfor theNHS

Thepandemicpresented arealchallenge forgrowingsteel stockholder USP Steels.

It wasthe firstmajor hurdle forthe companyonGibbons Industrial Park, Kingswinford,which wasformedin 2016 andhas sincegrown to employ 38 in supplyingstructuralsteel flat rolled products

USPSteels managedtooperate as effectivelyaspossiblethrough clever staff rotationstominimise Covidrisks yet maintain itsdespatchestomeetcustomer demand

It wassupplying many keyNHS contractsand it wascriticaltooffer an improveddeliveryservice to help USPstarted despatchingonweekends andexpandedoperational hoursto24/7 to help achievethis.

Reinvestment

Thesignificant growth createdincreasedprofitability andowner Glyn Costigan wascommitted to reinvestingthese profits back into thebusiness throughthe acquisitionofa newfouracre site in Kingswinford

Thetotal projectinvestmentwill be about£10 million.

Thelandwas purchasedand plans were submitted fora brand-newstate of theart purpose-built facility

Thenew facility boasts 40.000 sq ft of stockpace(allowing for7,500 tonnes of steel)

It involves ahugeincreaseonUSP’s

current20,000 sq ft (2,200tonnesof steel) at itsexistingsite.

Thenew facility will be able to facilitateabout 60 office staffallowingfor future growth andemploymentopportunities.

Thenew site boasts afree flow workingenvironment to help create adifferentworking environmentmovingaway from thetraditional setupoftypical office layouts.

With breakout areasand multiple

HOMESERVEFURNITURE REPAIRS

HomeserveFurniture Repairsiscurrently moving into itsnew home in the BlackCountry

Thebusiness, whichwas formed in 2004, hasbeenbased at Delph Industrial Estate,Delph Road,BrierleyHill

It is nowthe UK’s largestnational furniturerepaircompany forretailers, manufacturersand theinsurance and warranty sectors.

HomeserveFurniture Repairs, which currentlyemploys 248, hasquickly boundedbackfromthe impact of the pandemic

Forthe firsttimeinover10years, turnover forHomeservewas down on thepreviousyearfor 2020-2021asfor April, Mayand half of June of 2020 the business wasclosedwithnoincomewith furlough theonlysupport available.

Threecustomers in thetop 10 largest volumeswentintoadministration duringthe lockdown

HomeserveFurniture Repairsrecovered by achievingrecordturnover,staff numbers, profitability andnumberof customers traded with in thefollowing year

Thecompany beganworking with the largestfurniture retailer in theUK, DFS, whohavenever outsourced their furniturerepairs before September 2020,but choseHomeserveafter years of ‘knockingonthe door’totry andwin thebusiness. It hasalso just wonthe insurancewarrantycontract with one of thelargestfurniture retailersinthe UK,Furniture Village, aftertheyhad been with acompetitorfor 30 years.

Homeservenow commands more than

50 percentofthe furniturerepairmarket in theUKand Ireland.

AfterstartingtoworkwithDFS, it wasasked aboutthe possibility of their customers bookingappointmentsonline

In just sixweeks itswas up andrunning andworkedsowellthataround half of HFR customers nowuse theonline bookingsystem.

Half of themanagementteamat Homeserve, includingthe owner, were furniturerepairtechnicians on theroad

Innovating &engineering in the heart of the black countryfor 100 years

Centenary 1922-2022

MD Stuart Milton with directorsPeteSilcoxand James Newton

OwnerGlyn Costiganwith some of histeam James Lane withsomeofhis histeam outs

working zonesit hopestocreateanimprovedstress-free working environment to supportmentalhealthand wellbeing.

Thenew factoryisdue to startoperation in theautumn

Theinvestmentisahugestatement forUSP Steels andwill provideitwitha platform to continue its growth

USPSteelswas started by Mr Costiganand ateamofsix staff.

It hasdeveloped astrongrelationship with SSAB Steel, renowned forhigh

qualityproducts andeventually became an exclusivesupplypartner forone of its specialistproducts within theUK.

USPisforecasttoachieve volumesof 113,000 tonnes despatchedand annual salesrevenue of £100 million

Theprofits arecontinuingtobereinvested back into thebusiness to ensure that USPSteelsremains thefastest growingindependent stockholderinthe UK.

In addition,all employeeshavebenefited from multiple bonusesasrewards forthe hard worktheyhaveinvested.

It continuestoemployeeapprentices with onecurrently active at USPand planstoopenupanother twovacancies in thesecond half of this year

Opportunities

Mr Costigan is nowinvestigatingfurther investmentopportunitiestofurther expand theUSP Steels’brand andgroup andheisalso exploringwaystoexpand theservicesthatitisabletooffer to the UK manufacturingsector.

Over theyears USPSteelshas continuedtoincreaseits productranges and invest heavilyinimproving stockvariety.

Thebusinesshas also invested heavilyinyoung people over theyearsand hasworkedwithNovaTrainingtobring apprenticestothe business andslowly grow theworkforce

Currentlysix membersofits team have successfullycompleted apprenticeshipsatUSP Steels andearnedpermanent contracts.

will trainthe next generation of repair technicians

In September last year Homeserve FurnitureRepairs purchased abuildingonthe Waterfront Business Park in Brierley Hill,which couldeasilyhave been purposebuilt.

As thecompany hadgrown over the yearsit hadtaken on moreand more unitsonthe Delph Industrial Estate and foryears hadbeenlooking at buying a building

Thenew building hasundergone atotalrenovation. It hasadedicated trainingareafor theapprenticeprogramme andtotrain newrepairtechnicians as they arerecruited.

Allstaff completedthe move to the newsiteonMay 27 andthe remaining equipment is in theprocess of being moved.

that have boughttheir experience into theoffice

Even themostexperienced furniture technicians that it recruits have to go through atrainingprogramme, firstlyat theheadoffice in Brierley Hill,thenout on theroadfor at leastaweekwitharepair technicianlocal to wheretheylive, andthenbacktoheadoffice forafurther week before signoff

Thecompany is also investinginan in-house apprenticeship course,which

EachyearHomeserveFurniture Repairsdonates to charities. December 2021 sawdonations to Crisis (tofeed a homeless personatChristmas)and CircusStarr,which pays forchildren to have agreat time at thecircus. It also sponsors twolocal professional boxers, a young localgolfprofessional, anda local under-10sfootballteam.

Thecompany’s target is to achieve£20 million turnover within thenextthree yearshelpedbyanew ventureinproperty repairswhich started in April.

It hasset up anetworkofcontractors throughout theUKthatcan carryout repairstowalls, floors, doorsand driveways forfurniture retailerswhentheir delivery driverscause damage at homes when furnitureisdelivered

Lastyearsaw arecord commercial performancebythe Thomas Dudley Group.

Thebusiness in Birmingham NewRoad, Dudley,which was formed in 1920 andemploys 477 specialises in innovative utility andengineering products as well as bathroom,washroomand plumbing products

Turnover forthe last financialyearwas £56.6million –up £10.5m on theCovid affected year of 2020 butalso up £5mon 2019

Thegroup of companieshas invested in itsmanufacturing capacity to takeadvantage of the opportunitiesfromBrexit and FarEastsupplyissuesfollowing the pandemic

Since1920, Thomas Dudley hasformedveryclose ties with thelocal communitytakingcorporate socialresponsibility seriously.

Thefamilybusinessispassionateabout promotinginclusion,supportingsocialmobility, andgivingyoung people an opportunitytosecurea more prosperous future

Thebusinesshas closelinks with Dudley AcademyTrust,isa CornerstoneEmployer, haspartnerships with Dudley College

andhas anumberofdirectors on boards andasenterprise advisors

Thebusinessiskeentohelp supportthe workforce of thefuture andinspire young people to take theopportunitytoembark on careersinmanufacturing

In 2017 it demonstrated commitmenttothe next generation of Britishengineers by donating land forthe construction of The

EliteCentre forManufacturing Skills.

Over thelasttwo yearsthe grouphas donated £50,000to localcharities includingBeaconCentrefor theBlind,Black County Food Bank,Holiday Hunger Projectand many more Thegroup maximises use of theApprenticeshipLevyand has sixapprentices.Itisrecruiting a further five for2022.

PLASTICS

THOMAS DUDLEY

matthe GibbonsIndustrialPark site

sidethe brandnew headquarters

StafffromThomas Dudley Groupatthe Birmingham NewRoadsite

SPONSORED BY

BUSINESSPERSON OF THE YEAR 2022

USPSteels ownerGlynCostigan is settoleadhis business into anew eraofgrowth.

Themove to anew home at Kingswinford,which is duetoopenfor business this autumn,willbekey to thesteel stockholderscontinued success

Mr Costigan startedthe business at Gibbons Industrial Park, Kingswinford,in2016and it has growntoemploy38.

He is nowinvestigatingfurther investmentopportunitiestofurther expand theUSP Steels brand andgroup andexplorewaystoexpand theservicesitofferstothe UK manufacturingsector.

USPSteels started trading in January2017withMrCostigan andhis team of four office andtwo warehouse staffoperating from a smalloffice shared with USL.

In the firstyearitdespatched

JAMESLANE– HOMESERVEFURNITUREREPAIRS

FurniturerepairerJames Lane endedhis self-employedcontract with Ecomaster in 2004 andstruck outonhis own.

HomeserveFurniture Repairs startedwithhim drivinginhis van to wherever theworktookhim the UK to carryout repairsinhomes

Nowthe firm,currently based at DelphIndustrialEstate, Delph Road, Brierley Hill,employs 248 andisthe largestnationalfurniture repair company forretailers andmanufacturers andthe insurance andwarrantysectors

Within 12 months of starting HomeserveFurniture Repairs, Mr Lane hadgrown thecustomer base enough to recruitand employ four repair technicians andtwo office-basedstaff.The office wasa bedroomand orders came in by fax. Thecompany continuedtogrow, andasmall office wasleasedin

Brierley Hill in 2006 on DelphRoad Industrial Estate.James identified back then that IT wasthe future, andfound acompany that could help builda system,totally bespokefor thebusinesswithJames’s input. Thisallowedcustomers, who were mainly furnitureretailers,to addthe jobs directly on thesystem.

In 2008-2009, when the financialcrisiswas felt throughout the world,the furnitureindustrydid notescape, andthe largestclient of Homeservewentintoadministration,and putthe future of the business at risk.Itwas almost 70 percentofthe customerbase, and meantredundancieshad to be made forthe business to survive.

Allthe growth in the five years of thebusiness hadbeenalmost wipedout

Mr Lane came up with theidea of moving into thefurniture insur-

ance/warrantymarket.Thismeant that allrepairworkrequired on furniturethrough theinsurance wouldbedone by Homeserve, thereforeguaranteeingworkfrom an underwriterfor thelengthof the five-yearpoliciessold. James hadtobecome FCAregistered, and find an insurancecompany to work with Homeservecontinued to grow year on year,which meantemployingmorepeopleeachyear. By 2020 thecompany hadsix unitsonthe DelphRoadIndustrialEstate, employing70peopleatthe site,and nowhad arepairtechnicianliving in everypostcode in UK.

Mr Lane hasfor yearslooked to purchase abuilding in thearea andinSeptember last year the dreambecameareality –the perfect building waspurchased on the Waterfront Estate in Brierley Hill

NEIL LLOYD–FBC MANBYBOWDLER

Neil Lloyd wasappointed managingdirectoroflaw firm FBCManby Bowdlerin2020justdaysafterthe countrywas placed into lockdown at thestart of theCovid-19crisis. He hadjoinedthe firm with its head office in George Street,Snow Hill,Wolverhampton, in 2015 as salesdirector.

Sinceits formationin2008FBC

Manby Bowlder hasgrown to employ179 in providingbusinessand personal legalservicesacrossthe West Midlands,Shropshireand Worcestershire Mr Lloyd’sskill setand acumen sawthe firm quicklyask himto head up both humanresourcesand newtechnology, whereheled adigital transformation processwhich wastobeavital part of successful operations during thepandemic. He took on theroleofMDin April2020and hisleadershipsince

SPONSORED BY

34,000 tonnes of flat rolled products andbylastyearthathad grownto105,000

USPhas invested heavilyin young people workingwithNova Training to bringapprentices to thebusinessand slowly grow the workforce.Six membersofthe currentteamhavesuccessfully completed apprenticeshipsatUSP Steels andearnedfull time permanent contracts.

Mr Costigan developedastrong relationship with SSAB Steel, renowned forhigh qualityproducts within thesectorand we eventually became an exclusive supply partnerfor one of theirspecialist products within theUK.

Workingwithsuchreputable mills grew thecompany’s profile quicklyand focusedondelivering products on asameday/nextday servicethatnoother competitor

couldmatch.In2019the business rebranded from United Sheet & PlateSteels to USP Steels

It changedits identity from green colourstobrightpinkcolouring to modernise itsimage

Thepandemicpresented afresh challengeasUSP wassupplying many keyNHS contracts andit wascriticaltooffer an improved deliveryservice to help.

It begandespatching on weekends andexpandedoperational hoursto24/7.

Thesignificant growth created increasedprofitability andMr

Costigan committed to reinvesting theseprofits back into thebusiness throughthe acquisitionofthe new four-acresitewith40,000 sq ft of stockspace –a huge increaseon thecurrent 20,000 sq ft.

Thenew site hasbreakoutareas andmultiple workingzones

clearlyhighlights therealimpact of hisinnovative, imaginative and entrepreneurial approach to business success.

“Instantly,all theplans we had drawnupfor thebusiness during thehandover period were overtaken by events.But then whyshould leadingina crisis be anydifferent to leadinginnormaltimes?I firmly believethatifyou look afteryour team,theywill look afteryourclients, whichinturnleads to growth, andsoonitgoes

“So, Istuck to theprinciples whichI believehaveservedmeand my colleagues so well up untilnow In short, theseare fairness,honesty,openness, transparencyand clarity,”heexplained He wasalready awinner of the Artesian Awardfor outstanding leadership andvisionand LawNet’s outstandingindividualcontribu-

tion before theCovid crisis hitand he hassince setthe barfor stewarding abusinessthrough unprecedentedtimes

Hisleadershipinthe last year hasseena specificfocus on support forstaff with adrive to improve employee engagement,wellbeing anddevelopment

Mr Lloyd hasworkedwithsenior management to introduceseveral initiativeswhich have hadapositive impact at everylevel of our business

He is crystalclear that it is the teamshemanages whichare the reason forFBC ManbyBowdler’s success.MrLloyd says:“Ibelieve ourpeopleare thereasonfor our success andshouldbeinformed about,and involvedin, decisions whichwillmap outall ourfutures It’s been importanttoshowreal trustinour people.”

GLYN COSTIGAN –USP STEELS

Glyn Costigan startedhis business USPSteelsinKingswinfordin2016

FounderJames Lane at Homeserve FurnitureRepairs in Brierley Hill

NeilLloyd is managing director of FBCManby BowdlerSolicitors

FAMILYBUSINESS OF THEYEAR 2022

SPONSORED BY

AspenLeisure is afamilybusiness that owns TheMount HotelCountry Manor in Wolverhampton.

Thehotel in Mount Road, Tettenhall,employs 101 andisaleading weddingand function venueinthe area that also offers conference facilities

SinceWolvesreturntothe Premier League it regularlyhosts visitingteams.

Thebusinesswas acquired by the

BernardfamilyfromTettenhall in 2011 outofreceivership

Sincethenthere hasbeena continuous refurbishmentprogramme of £8 million involving all67bedrooms, function suites

ASPENLEISURE –THE MOUNTHOTEL COUNTRYMANOR FORMBEND

Tube manipulation specialists Formbend hasbeenrun by theHateley family sinceformation in 1966

ThebusinessinCharles Street, GreatBridge,was started by John Hateleyand offers tube bending, formingand brazingand weldedassemblies usinga wide range of materialsserving avariety of sectors.

Thecompany,which employs40, still prides itself on beinga family business at heart

JohnHateley after20years of ownershippassedthe helm on to his sonMarkHateley in 1986.In2017 Mark’s sonJames joined

In November 2020 Jamesand StuartSeftonsuccessfullycompleteda management buyout.

SCHOOL OF CODING

Family-runSchoolofCodinginWolverhamptonwas startedin2017and is theUK’slargestcodingand computerscience educator teaching children andadultsacrossthe UK and Europe

Thebusiness, basedatPendeford Business Park,has growntoemploy 28

It desire to be agile/continuously innovative comesdirectlyfrom founderManny Athwaland thevalueshebringsintothe business

SoCprovidescodinglessons online andatits sixeducation centres. It specialises in tutoring students doingGCSEs andA-levels.

It also delivers Government-funded courses to adults

WEATHERITEGROUP

Weatherite GroupinWestBromwich

hasreachedits 50th anniversary milestone in 2022

Thefamily-ownedbusiness is madeupofthree companies, includingWeatheriteAir Conditioning–oneofthe UK’s leadingheating,ventilation andair conditioning solution providers

Chairman JohnWhitehouse, who foundedthe business nowbased at Weatherite House, Credenda Road, from aconservatoryand said it had been quitea journeyoverthe half century.

Thegroup,which also includes Weatherite Service& Maintenance andWeatheriteAluminium Solutions, employs 202people

andall communal areas. Rooms have been upgraded andluxury suites created. Allofthe electrics andplumbinghavebeenreplaced as well as theentirecar park beinglandscaped andresurfaced.

formbend

tube manipulation •welded assemblies

Solidfamilyvalueshavebeen instilled acrossall departments andoperations.

Based at the heart of the UK, founded in 1966, Formbend is your one-stop shop for outstanding technical expertise in tube manipulation &welded assemblies.

Specialising in tube bending, end forming, brazing &welded components from avast range of materials across awidevariety of sectors, working closely with local specialists to offer our customers acomplete line side solution.

Formbend Limited, Units 4&5, Charles Street, Great Bridge, West Bromwich, B70 0AZ, 0121557 0555

email@formbend.com

www.formbend.com

www.weatheritegroup.com

Our mission is “Tomaintain our position as aworld class leader in tube manipulation and welded assemblies by manufacturing high-quality products and providing world-wide customer delight.”

Scottand RoyBernardatthe hotel

Themanagementteam at Formbend

Chiefexecutive MannyAthwal

John andTim Whitehouse

Chiefexecutive RoyBernard leadsAspen Leisure with hissons Scottand Brett.

GROWTH& INNOVATION AWARD 2022

Facedbythe challenges of thecoronavirus pandemicLittleDessert Shop chosetofranchise notfurlough.

Thebusiness, whichhas itshead office at Gorsebrook Road, Wolverhampton, decidedtoadapt its modeland wasabletoopen15new stores againstall theodds.

LittleDessert Shop,which opened its firststore in Wolverhamptonin2015offeringwaffles, crepes,cheesecakes, cookie dought andgelato, hasgrown to nowemploy390 people

Thenational lockdown in 2020 meantthatdine-in stores had to close andthe company’sstores were notmadetohandledeliveries andtakeaway.

Thebusinesschose to plan for thefutureand onceagain innovate thebrand andheadtowards agoal of unprecedentedgrowthinunprecedentedtimes

It launched auniquedelivery andtakeawaymodel whichwas designed to caterfor thedeliverydemand increase that wasbeing experienced in thefast-food industry during thepandemic.

LittleDessert Shop also launched anationalfranchise marketing strategy leadingtothe sale of 50 territorieswithnosignofstopping anytimesoon.

An entirely newmenuwas introducedadapted to notonly fitthe dine-inmarket butalso to offer spectaculardiningathomeexperiences.

Theinnovativenew menu included adunking boxthattooksocial mediabystorm

Thelaunchvideo forthe boxhad just over 12 million viewsonInstagram contributing to agrowthof over 180,000 socialmedia followers making LittleDessertShopthe most followed dessertbrand in the UK.

Sincethe beginningofthe pan-

In its100th year Dudley-basedMetallisation is in themidst of afresh driveforward to achieve newsuccess.

Thecompany in PeartreeLane, whichemploys 45,makes andsuppliesthermal sprayequipment, consumables andsolutions all around theglobe

In 2019 thedirectors completed areviewofthe business direction andput in placea strategicplan with avisiontogrowthe business to turnover of £18million to £20m within five years.

The plan was broken down into stages to allowfor targeted implementationofthe changes over a period of time

Oneofthe firsttasks wasto strengthen theseniormanagement team whichwas completedduring 2021 with theappointment of an operations managerand asales director

Theexpandedsenior managementteamhavebeentasked with implementing thenecessary changeswithinthe companyto enable thegrowthinlinewiththe companyvision.

Theprocessofthermal spraywas inventedin1909, butMetallisation constantly developsthe product andtechnologytocreatesolutions that expand thebenefits of thermal spraytoits customers

An exampleofthisisMetallisation’s involvementina projectwith RollsRoyce andNottingham University to miniaturise aspray pistoltoenableitto fitina bore hole within ajet engine with an 12mm diameter

Thisenables on-wingrepairs to essentialcoatingsinbetween majorservice intervals.

Amanufacturing innovation that hasbeenadoptedisthe useof 3D printing,bothfor research and developmentand production applications.

3D printed partsenableMetallisation to make itemsthatcould not be traditionally machined or moulded.

Thesecarbon-fibrereinforced partsare oftenstronger andlighter than conventional mouldedor machined plastics

Thecompany is very proudof beingatthe forefrontofimprovingtechnological advances with its products

It investsaround£250,000annually in research anddevelopment Metallistionhas 12 percentof itsfull time stafffocused purely on R&Dwithmanyother staff working in conjunctionwiththe department to bringdevelopments to fruition

Metallisation hasdeveloped its customerservice andproducts in applicationengineering whereit hasprovedout aprocess improvement forcustomers before they committoa largeproductioninvestment.

Freightforwardingexperts

KMBShippingGroup hasachieved exceptionalgrowth, particularly in internationaltrade,inthe last threeyears

Thebusiness, basedatCastlemill, BurntTree, Tipton,formed in 1987

It employs20and between2019 and2021doubled turnover andincreasedits number of customers by almost 300per cent

KMBspecialises in sea, rail and airfreight,haulage,international shipping anddomestic transport.

It assistsimporters andexportersintransportingcargo to almost anywhere in theworld in themost efficientand effectiveway possible KMBprovidesexportdocumen-

demic20storeshaveopenedintotal.

Unlikeany otherdessert brand, LittleDessertShopoperatesits ownindustrialbakeryproduction centre

TheLittleDessertBakeryalso expanded during thepandemicto allowfor theincreased demand due to thenew storeopenings.

Thebusinessiscontinuously creating innovative tastecreations with allofthe desserts served in itsstoresare handcraftedinthe bakery including15gelato flavours andmorethan40different cakes, bakesand patisseries.

LittleDessert Shop also releases national promotionssuchasfor Valentines,Easter, Halloween and Christmas.Italso hasshorter promotionsfor Diwali,Ramadan and special events

It is continuing to innovate in thedessert industry includingwith therecent launch of an entire 40item veganmenu.

tation,customs clearances,export packingservicesand comprehensive cargoinsurance.

Itscustomers rangefromlarge transnationalstosmall andmedium-sized businesses

It hasgrown to servicethe needs of customers in more than 30 countriesand across sixofseven continents.

KMBwas presented with a Queen’sAward forEnterprise in 2021 in recognitionofits effortsin internationalmarkets.

In preparationfor thefutureincrease in customsentries within theEUthe companyhas expanded itscustoms department and invested in stafftrainingand specialist IT software andhardware.

Someofthe team at TheLittleDessertShop whichiscontinuing to grow

Phill Dawesatworkatgrowing Dudley business Metallisation

KMBco-ownersJamie Warren,left, and KevJones

MANUFACTURING CHAMPION 2022

WEATHERITE GROUP

Over thelast15years Weatherite AirConditioning,part of theWeatheriteGroup,has grownfromannualturnover of £10million to £28m

It manufactures made-tomeasureheating,ventilation andair conditioning solutions andisthe UK’s leader in making airmovementequipment

Thecompany,based at WeatheriteHouse,CredendaRoad, West Bromwich,formedin1972 andemploys 202.

BurntwoodbusinessLesters is one of Staffordshire’sfastest growing manufacturers.

It is aspecialistinlarge packaging, providingmillionsofcorrugated boxes, largeformatpackagingand heavy-duty cases

Therise of online shopping has seen salessoarand Lesters, founded in 1983,has takenon15new staff to take itsskilled workforce to 60 people

Astrategic expansionplanwill seethe companymove towards£25 million annual turnover by 2024 andthiswill create afurther 30 new positionsatits 45,000 sq ft site at Mount Road

Thelastyearhas been transformational forLesters with itsgrowth driven by investmentinskillsand

a£7m investmentprogramme that hasresulted in theinstallationof anew £3mTCY JumboCasemaker andthe impendingarrival of aTCY N6 3colourcasemaker machine. These acquisitionshavehelpedthe companyreduceleadtimes andincrease capacity

Lesterscreates bespokepackagingsolutions that areasuniqueas theirrequirements, whetherthatis storingcars, luxury bathroomproducts or high value engineeringcomponents. Thein-house design team works with customers to develop exactlythe rightsolutionthatwill packagetheir productbetter, saving them money on packagingcosts

Therehas been a£2.5m investment in anothernew production line, whichboastsa rotary diecutter.

LESTERS JENKS &CATTELL ENGINEERING

Although turnoverisimportant,Weatherite’smotto ‘turnoverisvanity-profitability is sanity’– whichhas been thesamefor thelast five decades–remains at theforefront of itsbusiness strategy

With four individual operating companies, Weatherite Group hasestablished itself as one of theUKleaders in thehighly competitiveHVACindustry. Unlikemostofits competitors whichoffer products from a brochure,Weatheritestartsthe manufacturingprocess from a blankpiece of paper, andcovers allaspects of thebuildprocess–from development,design, manufacturing,testing,instalment andcomplete aftercaresupport

Part of Weatherite’s sales strategy is to obtainrepeatbusiness whilst continuallylooking fornew sectorstotarget.

It provides an outstandinglevel of expertise within itssales, technical andapplicationsteams ensuring clientsreceive acompetitive,bespoke,high quality, energy-savingsolution.

Morethan70per cent of Weatherite’s business is ‘repeat’ with anumberofmajor retail/ telecomclients that it hasdelivered HVAC solutionstofor well over25years

As well as retail andtelecommunications, Weatherite also operates in thecommercial, lei-

Sheetmetal manufacturingservice

Jenks &Cattell Engineeringplans to invest around £300,000 in anew state-of-the-art machining centre this year

It comesdue to demand from existing customers whowould like to expand theirportfolio with the Wednesfieldcompany

Thebusinesshas alreadyinvested more than £3 million since2015, includinganew lasercutting machine andnew pressesfor amorediverse capability at itsNeachells Lane site whereitemploys 100.

Jenks&Cattell,foundedin1886, offers metalpressing, lasercut fabrication andbothmanualand robotic welding.

It is oneofthe most established sheetmetal workers in theUK.

Thebusinesshas exported automotive components across theworld sincethe 1990sand now competitively supplies customers in Europe, SouthAmerica andAsia.

Itsoriginwas in manufacturing garden toolsand thequality of manufacturing hasalwaysbeentothe highestlevel

Despite adifficult period with the global pandemic,Brexitand the Suez Canalblockage, Jenks &Cattell’s salesperformance is something to be proudof.

Turnover grew from £7.5mto £9.7mbetween 2020 and2021and itshas securedbusinesstoachieve

£15m turnover by 2024

Thecompany hasheavily developed itsusage of aluminiumand introduced aluminiumTIG welding.

sure,hospitality,pharmaceutical, healthcare andeducation sectors.

Weatherite AirConditioning hasrecruited26peopleinrecent months,including eightnew apprenticesacrossthe groupof companies.

Apart of itsdrive fornew employees,Weatheritepledges a substantial investmentintoits apprentice trainingscheme, ensuring thecompany hasnew talentwithwhich to plan forfuture growth.Itreaps therewardsof itsinvestmentinthe scheme and hasasteady flow of high achievers–manyofwhom choose to carryonwiththeir educationaftertheir initialapprenticeshipis completed.

Thecompany hasarateofwell over 80 percentofits apprentices remainingatWeatheritefor many yearsafter gainingtheir qualification

As with many otherbusinesses nowstrugglingwithprocurement of components, Weatherite Groupin2021, invested £2.5m,

doublingthe size of oneofits existing factoriestoincreasestoragecapacityand updating major manufacturingequipment,to ensure that itsproductionfacilityhas excellentreliability

The5,000 sq ft extensionhas increasedofone of itsfoursecondary factorypremises by 50 percent, from 10,000 to 15,000 sq ft

Thecompany hasalso installeda newhot wire cutter whichwill be usedtoaccurately cutthick polyfoam insulation Thishas been made necessary to comply with newregulations whichrequirethatthe company’s airhandlingunits be built with much improvedthermal properties andthereby providing amoreenergyefficientproduct Weatherite hasintroduced several lean manufacturing strategies to reduce wastewhilst maintaininghigh quality. Weatherite continuestolook at ways of reducingenergyusage whilst helpingtoreduceharmful greenhouse gasemissions

www.weatheritegroup.com

Packaging firm

Lestersislocated in MountRoad, Burntwood

Some of thestaff at Jenks& Cattell Engineering in Wednesfield

Weatherite Group in West Bromwich employsaworkforce of 202

BESTMARKETING CAMPAIGN 2022

WomeninSecurityisacampaign launched by GMSSecurityServicestoencourage more women to take up thediverse career oppor-

tunities availableinthe security sector as part of theeconomicrebuilding from Covid-19

The17-year-old company, based

at WarrensHallRidingSchool, Oakham Road,Tividale, employs 500.

Thesocially-conscious market-

SPONSORED BY

ingand communications campaign waslaunchedbecause thesecurity sector facesanationalchallenge to overcome perceptionsaround

security beingonlyacareerchoice forwomen limitedtoworking the doorsfor nightlifewhenthere area host of opportunities.

TILLYMINT COMMUNICATIONS

TillymintCommunicationscreated amarketingcampaignfor theAutomaticDoorSuppliers Association,a national tradeassociation,based in Tamworth

Thebusiness, basedatWeavers Chambers, Gaolgate Street, Stafford, wasstarted in 2020 by former Express& Star journalist Alison Gallagher-Hughes

ADSA acquired Tillymint’s serviceshavingpreviouslyworkedwith Alisonona freelancebasis to undertake projectwork.

Keymarketing objectives were identified to mirror business planning andpriorities. Amarketing communicationsplan, includinga calendar of activity wasproducedfor business-to-business audiences.

BLACKCOUNTRYCHAMBER

Black Country2.0 wasthe Black CountryChamber of Commerce’s biggestand most ambitiouscampaigntodate.

It ranfor ayearfromFebruary 2021 with thecentralaim of supportingbusinesses recovering from theimpacts of Covid-19 andthe worsteconomicdownturnonrecord

2021 also sawthe chambercele-

brated 20 yearssince itsincorporation as thesuccessor to chambers in Dudley,Sandwell,Walsall,and Wolverhamptonsince the1860s.

Thecampaignalso celebrated this milestone andinvolve integrating marketing, communications and publicaffairs.The threephases were ‘rebooting’, ‘rebuilding’, and ‘rebounding’