ESBA Meet the Finalists 6th June 2023

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MEET THE FINALISTS

THEREGION’S PREMIER BUSINESS AWARDS

S&STAR WARDS2023 S & STAR BUSINESS AWARDS 2023

Welcometothe Express& Star Business Awards 2023 finalists’supplement

Today, we areproud to turn thespotlightontoall of the brilliantbusinessesthatare in therunningfor an awardat our flagship eventonThursdayeveningatWolverhampton Racecourse

Once againthisyearwewere bowled overbythe qualityofthe entriesfor ourannualbusiness awards –and allofthe businesses featuredinour supplement todayhavealready hadtoovercome fierce competitiontoreach this stageofthe competition.

Theeconomy is continuing to go through adifficult patch, but our finalistshavenavigated the challenges to emerge stronger than ever.These truly areoutstanding contenders.

Good luck to allofour finalists

Thewinners of allninecategories in the Express& Star Business Awards will be revealed on Thursday night.

WolverhamptonRacecourse is once againthe venue forthe glittering black-tie awards dinner.

Theevening will culminate in theannouncementofthe business of theyeartosucceed Brierley Hill’s EmmieraGroup,thenknownas HomeserveFurniture Repairs, who took home 2022’s topaward Judges hada toughtaskindecidingonthe finaliststhisyear.

Thequality of entrieswas so high that five finalistswerenamed forthe overallbusiness of theyear category,which is sponsoredbythe Express &Staritself

Onebusiness is in therunning forthree awards on thebig night

LestersPackaging,ofMount Road, Burntwood,isabusiness of theyearcontenderand is also a finalist forthe growth andinnovation award. Managing director Billy Hutchinsonisinthe runningfor business person of theyear.

Lesterslandedanawardsdouble last year as winnersofthe manufacturingchampionand smallto medium-sized business of theyear.

Finalistsinclude from some of thebest-knownestablished and successfulnames in business in the region, fledglingcompanies that are

JOHN

john.corser@mnamedia.co.uk

making anamefor themselves and topyoung apprentices.

Theawards, whichrecognise the best in thebusiness world in the newspaper’scirculation area,returned in 2022 aftermissing 2020 and2021due to thecoronavirus pandemic

Allkinds of businesses arefeaturedthisyear, from traditional engineeringand cutting-edge technology to hotels andsecurity firms.

Host

Host forthe big nightisonce againcomedian andimpressionist AaronJames,who hashosted three boxing world title fights in LasVegas.

Thecharity on theeveningwill be Wolverhampton’s GrandTheatre

Theother sponsors of categories are: BlackCountry andMarches InstituteofTechnology, Carvers, Collins Aerospace,Crowe,MNA Digital,Higgs LLP, EmmieraGroup andRichardson.

TheGrand Theatre is againsponsoring thedrinksreceptionatthe startofthe awards evening, which is produced by Yarrington andheld in themainEBC Suite at theracecourse

Silvaman Groupwill againbe supporting theawardsasassociate sponsors andanew associate sponsorthisyearisWombourne Windows

CORSER

E&SEditorMartinWright

Homeserve Furniture Repairs– nowEmmiera Group–celebrate winningthe businessofthe year titleatthe 2022 Express&StarBusinessAwards

Enjoying theHeadsand Tailsgameatthe 2022 awards

Formbend celebrate theirwin

Theawards sponsorslunch in theE&S boardroom

GMSSecurity’s team celebrateMegan Winup’s apprentice of theyear win

ADDFIELD

OMEDIUM SIZED FTHE YEAR 2023 L TO MED BUSINESS OF THE

SPVSPECIAL PROJECTS JJXLOGISTICS

Burntwood-based Addfield EnvironmentalSystems hasthe potentialtodouble its workforceby2025.

Thebusiness, which formed in 2008,currently employs 55 Addfieldisagloballyrecognisedmanufacturerof incinerationand cremation solutions.

It designs, builds and installs worldwideacross multipleindustries.

Addfieldisone of the world’s leadingmanufacturers of thermaltreatment systems.

TheAddfieldbrand has been establishedfor over

40 yearsoperating under itscurrent management since2008.

Thebusinesshas consistentlyinvested heavily in research anddevelopment

It opened its firstinternational office in theUnited States in 2022 andhas recently closed adealthere worth £3 million

Addfieldpridesitself on employing locally, with 80 percentofthe workforce currentlylivingwithin10 milesofthe headquarters.

It is acompany committed to ethicaland sustainable growth

Thecustomeriskingfor transport andwarehousing companyJJX Logistics.

JJX, whichwas formed in 1997 andemploys 67, specialises in time-criticaland temperature-controlled logistics.

2022 sawthe company achieveBondedWarehouse status furtheraddingtoits storageoffering.

It has more than 12,000 pallet spacesonits six-acre site andhas seen alot of demand from thechemical andpharmaceuticalindustrieslooking to storeimported goods foreventual exporting.

LEGIONELLAAND FIRE SAFE SERVICES

JJXLogistics aims to be industry leadersin time-criticallogistics

Therehavebeen30new part-timeand full-time membersofstaff join in the last year.

Development of staffis abig part of JJXLogistics with everyopportunity takenfor additional and beneficial training.

During theyear, 46 training courseshavebeen completedbythe teamat Kingswinford

JJXhas become oneof very fewhauliersinthe countrythatcan transport allnineADR classes.

Roofing expertsSPV SpecialProjectscarries out works from £500 repairs to £2.5 million refurbishment contracts.

Thecompany in Westgate,Aldridge, whichwas formed in 2008, employs 49 SPVoperatesinthe commercialand industrial sectors nationwide

It undertakes contracts fora number of largeblue chip clientsincluding Jones Lang Lasale, IcelandFrozenFoods andHoliday Inn

Staffsuccess is celebrated with yearly awards,employeeofthe month and

workanniversary milestones.

Thecompany supports many causes, including football teams, theRoyal BritishLegionand Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Apprenticesare incrediblyimportant to thebusiness andtheymakeup 10 percentofthe workforce APVwas proudtonamed as atop 50 SMEapprenticeship employer by the Department forEducation in 2022

Staffregularly visit schoolsinthe area to participate in careersevents.

Legionella andFireSafeServices hasgrown to employ morethan60 employeesand have a£4million annual turnoversince itsformation in 2017

Thecompany,which specialises in Legionella controlworks,isnow basedatBritannia House,Britannia Way, Lichfield.

It operates nationwide andalso carriesout allaspects of fire-related workand plumbing

Thecompany’s growth hasseen it secure long-termcontractswith localauthorities,including Wolverhamptonand Birmingham city councils, housingassociations, care home groups andrestaurantchains

Thereare nowsix divisionstothe business

Legionella sponsors grassroots localgirls football teamsand been involvedwiththe AnthonyNolan charitytohelpraise awarenessfor doners

In the fightagainst climate change thebusiness hasbeenworkinghardtoreduceits emissions.

Lastyearitdevisedanemployee packagetohelpwiththe cost of livingincreases andfuelcosts

Thecompany aims to deliver service excellence to allclients from theexperienced engineersand fieldbasedsupervisors.Thisensures all aspects of theinstallations areto thehighest standard.

Legionella hasmanaged to make aprofiteachmonth since itsninth monthoftrading.

TheAddfieldfactory at Burntwood Business Park

SPV’s JamesHarris, left;KateWhatley and TylerNewall

JJX LogisticsisonPensnettTrading Estate,Kingswinford

Someofthe office team at thecompany’s headquarters in Lichfield

CE OF THEYEAR2023 THE YEAR 2023

RAVI RAM-GE MATTHEWRANDLE

Ravi Ram-Ge wonthe BritishComputing SocietyIT Infrastructure andNetworks apprentice of the year awardin2022.

He joinedConcero UK in ComptonRoad, WolverhamptoninOctober 2020 followingtwo weekswork experience Ravi,whompassedhis apprenticeship with amerit in December,currently works on thehelpdeskat thebusinesswhich supportseducation organisationsand hasgathereda fanbaseamong customers

THOMAS BARTLETT

–some of whom want to speaktohim aheadofany othersupport technician. Concerosay that he is an outstandingand keymemberofthe teamand avaluable asset.

Chiefexperienceofficer Hayley Rock said:“From the firstmoment Imet Ravi in ouroffice when he was on workexperience, Iknew we hadfoundanew memberofthe team.Raviisa joytoworkwith, fantastic with allour customers and it’s been arealpleasureto watch himdevelop.”

Crosby Management Training’s chiefoperating officerThomasBartlett joined theapprenticeship trainingproviderasanHR apprentice in July 2016

In Novemberlastyear he wasentered forand won theNationalApprenticeship Rising Star Award, averyprestigious award within theapprenticeship sector andone whichwas testamenttothe hard work that he hasput in overthe last fewyearswiththe Wolverhamptoncompany

He hastaken on various

rolesinhis significant progressand hasbeenareal passionate advocate of the apprenticeship system

Thomas hasbeeninstrumental to helpingthe organisation grow in all aspects

At theage of 25 he was promotedtoCOO and manages ateamoffourapprenticesaspartofhis role He acts as arolemodel andencourages andsupportsall theapprentices within histeamand has been integral in implementingnew systems.

MatthewRandlehas recently been promoted to generalmanager at Dreamland’sbedding centre in Mill Street,Brierley Hill He waspreviouslybusiness development manager with theindependentbed specialist.

Matthew firststarted part time whilecompletinghis degree in business enterprise.Manyofhis assignments were based around thebusiness,and these theories andprincipleshavebeenusedtoim-

prove thebusiness. Since becoming full time,Matthew hasvisited allsuppliers on training courses andhas been committed to traininginstore

Last year he started his apprenticeship (level 7Senior Leadership combined with MBAand Chartered managerstatus) andhas embeddedthisintohis everyday work.

Matthewnow sets the strategicdirection forthe business.Heiscurrently developingoperational policiesand practices.

Ravi Ram-Ge of ConceroUKinWolverhampton

Matthew Randlehas been promoted by Dreamland

Thomas Bartlett worksfor CrosbyManagement Training

RapidPackFulfilmentisa third partylogistics companythatworks with e-commercesellers to grow theirbusinesses by fulfilling orders.

Thecompany at Junction TwoIndustrial Estate,DemuthWay,Oldbury,now employseightpeopleafter starting operations in July 2021

Thebusinessbegan in amuch smallerwarehouse basedinErdington,Birmingham with just two membersofstaff,which included thefounder anddirectorBen Slater andthe currentheadofoperations RajSharmawithjusta handfulof clients.

In June 2022,operationswere movedtothe much larger facility in Oldbury RapidPackhas continuedtogrow

INESSOFTHE YEAR 2023

and now has more than 50 active clients.Ordersper dayhaverisenfrom 30 to 40 to over 600per day.

Thecompany says that it hasreceived tremendoussupport from the BlackCountry ChamberofCommerceand looks forwardtoworking alongsidethemtocreatemorejob opportunities.

Rapid Pack is also lookingtocreateapprenticeshipopportunities with thehelpofSandwellCollege

In November2022, Rapid Pack launched itsfreebusinessand e-commercefocusedpodcast Brand &Boost whichisavailable on podcastingsites such as ApplePodcasts, Spotify,AmazonMusic andavailable to watch on thecompany’s YouTube channel.

SHERBET DONKEY MEDIA

MoRServhas growndramatically from itslaunchinNovember 2021.

Theoriginalstrategy forthe companyinHighStreet,Wombourne wastoprovide risk,intelligenceand transformation consultancy services

It hassince developedtobecome athought leader in the fieldofriskprofiling andmanagementand is creatingand building an innovativeand new to market digitalsolution.

Thestory of MoRServreal-

ly begins in 2014 when Chris Dowen,asaChief Inspectorfor West Midlands Police,became thearchitectand programme lead of theManagementofRisk in LawEnforcement (MoRiLE) Programmeuntil hisretirement in 2021

MegDowen is aformerlocal authoritymanager with experience inthe fields of leisure and communityinvolvement

JasonMoseley is also aretired police officerwithmorethan20 years’ experience as adetective

In 2021 MoRServwas appointed as aspecialist advisorto theBaroness Caseyindependent review into thepublicdisorder at theEuro2020football finals at Wembley. Jasonled as the specialistinvestigator into the criminal activities of fans on that dayand receivedcommendation forthe expert insightprovidedtothe enquiry.

As aresultofthisworkChris, Megand Jasonsaw an opportunity fortheir expertise to come together as oneservice

Worcestershiredigital marketing agency Sherbet Donkey Mediahas growntoemploy42injusttwo years sinceits formationinJune2021.

Thecompany,which specialises in website designand development, search engine optimisation and branding services is basedatSherbetHouse,HarrisBusiness Park, StokePrior,nearBromsgrove

Sherbet Donkey Mediawas launched in June 2021 by co-foundersLokiHinton-Bowen andLucy Hurst. They establishedthe agency to workwithambitious businesses lookingtogrowand become leaders in theirindustry.

Theagencylaunchedwithjust three membersofstaff,withrapid growth plans.

Theaccelerated growth meant that in December 2021,Sherbet Donkey hadtomove into larger premises to accommodatethe expandingoperations.

As part of expansionplans for 2023, theaim is to increase theteam to 45 people within thenexteight months

Theclientbasehas expanded from asingleSEO projecttoachieving £1 million in SEOclients in November last year

Sherbet Donkey hasrecruited some of thebesttalentinthe industry, offering ampleopportunities to graduatesand young people in the localcommunity andisconstantly on thelookout fornew talent within thedigital marketingindustry.

BenSlater, left,and RajSharma at Rapid Pack FulfilmentinOldbury

Wombourne-based MoRServ’sthree directors MegDowen,Chris Dowenand Jason Moseley,right

Loki Hinton-Bowen,right,with theSherbet Donkeyleadershipteam

LESTERSPACKAGINGCOMPANY

LestersPackaging Companyisexperiencinganothertransformationalyearin2023.

Thefast-growingbusiness is on course to hit£25 million salesand this will require an additional 20 people,takingthe highly skilled workforce at Mount Road, Burntwood to 70

Lestershas continuedtopushthe boundariesofinnovationwhenitcomestopackagingover thelasttwo years.

Theseniormanagementteamhas more than 100years of packagingexperience. When it plannedits expansion therewas aconscious decision to employ theleadingindustryexperts in everypartofthe business,attracting several high-profile

appointments from moreestablished riva Afew years agomanagingdirectorB

ly Hutchinsonidentified aclear gapin market he felt couldbeexploited

Thelarge format corrugated market w dominatedbyasmall number of very la players –multi-nationals with little flexib ityand no attentiontocustomerservice

Thebusinessdecided to invest £4.5mi anew TCYJumbo Casemaker to give it capabilitytocompete alongsidethese players Goingforward Lester is investingin additional £2.5minanother newprod tion line that will doubleits value-ad ‘regular case’capacity.

ADDFIELD ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS

Thefutureislooking very exciting for AddfieldEnvironmental Systems.

TheBurntwood business is aglobally recognisedmanufacturerofincineration andcremation solutions.

It is in theprocess of beginningseveral of itsmostsignificant international orders to date andestablishingitself in newterritories.2022markedthe company’s 40thanniversary andthe 142nd countrytochooseAddfield.

Theenvironmentally focusedbusiness believes that itscustomers should receivethe highestquality of service andequipment.Addfieldbuildsmachines to last more than 20 years.

Sincethe currentmanagementtook ownershipin2008Addfieldhas continuously invested in research anddevelopment

Thesuccess in recent yearshas allowedthe companytoopenasecond business called AddfieldProjects, de-

veloping andsupplying bespokeoneof-a-kindhigh-capacity andspecialist incinerators.

Addfieldisinvesting in improvingefficiency andadditionalmanufacturing space in thenextthree years, creating aholding space to keep astock of the most requested machines. It is developingits firstfully electric incinerator

In 2008 Addfieldwas takenunder ownershipoflocal entrepreneurSteve Lloydwithaworkforce of three. It now employs55.

Addfieldalwaysaimstoemploylocally and80per cent of itsworkforce currently live within 10 miles.

It is regularlyreceivingapprentices into thebusiness giving theopportunity to work acrossall departmentsto find theirstrengths foracareeratAddfield.

Thecompany encourages itsemployeestoraise moneyfor charitiestheyfeel personally connected to

Packaging firm Lestersfrom Burntwood has mademajorinvestments in recent years

Addfieldbuilds itsmachinesatits factoryonBurntwood Business Park

als. rBilthe twas arge ibile. min tthe ebig nan ducded

Kingswinford-basedUSP Steels hasgrown to be aleading steelsheet andplate stockholder

Thecompany,which employs50, had itsbestyeartodatein2022with118,000 tonnes of steelsold.

Thegrowing business movedinOctober to apurpose-builtsitedesigned to future proofthe USPbrand whilst meetingcustomers rapidlygrowing needs.

Thestate-of-the-art office andfactory site helped maintain 600tonne aday sales growth USP’sgrowthhas also allowedit to expand itsteam, adding an extra15and counting in thelast12months.

REPOSEFURNITURE

Themove hasplayeda pivotalpartinallowing thecompany to furtherenhance its commitment to itscustomers.Itnow has four more loadingbays, maintaininga 24/7 service, plus Saturday deliverieshavebeen made possible USP is the firstUKstockistofSSAB Multisteel,aproduct so versatile that is optimisedfor thecustomer–one steel, many grades

Physicalwellbeing wasatforefront of plansfor employees. Januarysaw thecompletion of astate-of-the-artgym andsauna

USP supports thelocal communityand it hassustained sponsorships of Kewford Eagles Football Club andDudleyAthletics

GrowingJJX Logisticsadded23new members of stafftoits transportationdepartment over thelastyear.

Anotherseven joined thestorage department at the26-year-old company’sbaseon ThirdAvenue at Pensnett TradingEstate, Kingswinford JJX, whichnow employs 67,offerstime criticaland temperature-controlled transport andwarehousing andspecialises in ADRhazardousgoods.

2022 wasthe most successful financial year to dateinthe company’shistory turningover£7.9million in revenue –anincrease of 33.7 percenton2021.

JJXisone of the600 coalitionmembers

that form theTransported AssetProtection Association,a groupofthe world’s leading industry stakeholders workingtowardthe common interest to reduce cargolossand theftwithinthe global supply chain.

2022 also sawJJX achieveBondedWarehousestatusfurther adding to itsstorage offering.It hasmorethan12,000 pallet spacesonits six-acre site

Theturnofthe year sawJJX introduce itsnew ‘Think Green’ initiative State-of-the-art vehicletrackingsoftware allows it to constantly monitor everything from thedistancetothe vehicleinfront to thetimespent idle and everything in between.

Kingswinford-basedReposeFurniture will be marking25yearsinbusinessin 2024.

Thecompany makesspecialisedrise andrecline seatingatits factoryon Pensnett TradingEstatewhere it employs110

Repose is ledbymanagingdirector Lisa Wardleyand operations director Rich Guy, with ateamofmanagerswho aredevelopingtheir skillseveryweek andmonth with continuing training.

Repose hasrecentlymovedfroma 23,000 sq ft building at CradleyHeath to 64,000 sq ft at itspresent home

Thecompany hasinvested heavilyin itsn extstrategicvision, with capitalinvestmentinnew equipment in itswoodmill centre,foamconversion centre and fabric cutting centre

Repose hasconsistentlyproduced high-quality furniturethatmeets the needsofits clients–now at aglobal

level. It usesonlythe finest materials andemploysskilled craftsmentocreate furniturethatisnot only beautifulbut hasall thepersonalfunctionalbespoke elements as well as beingalso durable Repose hasgonethrough massive growth aftertaking theinitiativeto driveand grow throughturbulent times.

Thecustomerservice teamisalso a vitalaspectofRepose’ssuccess.Itbelieves that customersatisfactionisthe keytobuilding lastingrelationships

Everymember of theReposeteam, from experiencedupholstererstodeliverydrivers, is committed to ensuring it delivers qualityeverytime.

Repose workedall through thedifficult time of Covid-19, supplyingthe Nightingalehospitals with therequired beds andseating Theteamisdedicated to producing thebestpossiblefurniture

Managing director John Donovanoftransport andwarehousing business JJXLogistics

Someofthe USPSteels team at thenew factoryonGibbonsIndustrialEstate

Rich Guywith thesales team of GracePowis,Julie Underhill andSophie Small

Managing director RobGittins has dedicatedthe last 15 yearsofhis career to thesuccess andgrowthof Palletways UK.

Thepalletised freightexpress delivery networkhas itsheadquarters at FradleyDistributionPark, near Lichfield.

It hasgrown to become Europe’s largestpalletnetwork.

Mr Gittins hastaken Palletways from strength to strength with his open-doorleadershipstyle

He worked as alorry driver in hisearly career andpeoplerespect himfor working hisway up to the toppositionina leadingUKbusiness

He is oftenseenwalking around thewarehouse to talk to drivers andwarehouse stafftoget their viewsonthe business

As salesdirectoratPalletways in 2014 and2015, Mr Gittensled thedepartmenttoits highestlevel

ERSONOFTHE YEAR 2023 S PERSON OF THE

Lesley Hollandisdescribedasan exceptionaland inspirationalleader

Shehas been managing director of Juniper Training at Hilton CrossBusinessPark, near Wolverhampton, since2015.

Thetrainingsolutions provider is celebratingits 20thanniversary as Juniperthisyear

It hasgrown from 10 to 24 trainingcentresand from 110to185 staffduringLesley’scontroland now supports around 2,000studentseachyear.

Shehas workedher waythrough the organisation from projectofficertomanagingdirectorand has created aprogressive andtransparent business culture.

Herjourney within thetraining industry started in 2002 at Carver Training –Juniper’s previous name.The companyquickly realisedher potentialand offeredher

ateamleaderroleonthe ‘Making Learning Work’programme,workingclosely with schoolstosupport young people whohad sporadic attendance issues andwereatriskof becoming NEET (Not in Employment,Education or Training).

In 2003,she waspromotedto trainingcentre managerinWalsall

In 2006,her promotion to area manager of Tamworth office involvedmanagingacluster of trainingcentres whodelivered the Government’s ‘New Deal’ programmes.

In 2007 shewas promotedto head of HR andquality,studied andachievedher Level7Degree in HumanResourcesin2009 and then became director of HR,quality andcurriculum.

In herroleasMD, Lesley has supportedthe business with a management buy-out, as theprevi-

ousowner retiredinMarch 2020

Despite thecountry goingintoits firstever lockdown,Lesley’sinspirationalmanagementstyle and strategicdirection enabledthe companytosurvive Lesley hasconsulted allstaff on many toughdecisions that have hadtobemade, especially during andsince Covid-19.Anexample of this is when it wasagreedtoreduce working hoursratherthan have furtherredundancies

SincetakingoverasMD shehas successfullyturnedthe business around,encouraging andmotivating herteamand sharingher wealth of knowledge andexperience

Sheisknownasthe fountofall knowledgeand carriesthe nickname ‘the Oracle’.

Sheconstantlyencourages and supports staff’scontinuousdevelopment

of growth andrecord salesatthat time.Hebecamemanagingdirectorin2017and ledthe company throughthe Covid-19 pandemic andtorecord yearsfor both volumeand revenue in 2021 and2022.

He hashand-picked astrong senior management teamwhich he coachedand developed to steerthe business through turbulent times, such as Brexit,Covid-19and the driver shortage

Mr Gittenshas developed keyrelationshipswiththe morethan130 membersofthe network.

He worksclosely with thewider team at Palletways,atbothasenior leveland on thehub floor, to listenand supportinall areasofthe business offering hissuggestions andperspectiveswhilst taking in ideasand situations

Mr Gittensisafoundingmemberofthe industry body Association of Pallet Networks wherehe

regularlyprovidessectordirection andleadership in keyareas such as health andsafetyand operations

In 2022,Palletwayslauncheda world-firstfor thegloballogistics industry –a technologicalinnovation that takesoperational efficiency,healthand safety within pallet-focusedenvironmentsto newlevels.

Theinnovation, called Palletways ID,isthe world’s most sophisticatedforklifttruck-mountedsensortechnologyand is settomake existing stand-alonepalletassessment andmeasuring technology obsolete,asitcombinesfourkey data measurementsinone go Theinnovationcameabout when Mr Gittensidentified theneedfor data to be gathered on everypallet that travelsthrough thenetwork, whilst improvingthe health and safety of pallet handlers andimprovingefficiency

BillyHutchinson, managing directorofLesters PackagingCompany, hascreated one of theMidlands fastest-growingmanufacturers whichhas wonseveral business awards inrecent years.

The40-year-old companyin Mount Road, Burntwood employs more than50and is adisruptive forceinlarge packaging, providing millionsofcorrugated boxes, large format packagingand heavy-duty cases annually

Underthe leadership of Mr Hutchinson, Lestershas continued to push theboundariesofinnovation when it comestopackaging over thelasttwo years, andthis hasseenits double turnover from £6 million in 2021 to £13m last year

Thanks to thevisionofthe Wolverhampton-born entrepreneur, a £7m, three-yearinvestmentstrategyinthe latest machinery and

technology hasbeenimplemented andLesters is on course to hit £25m salesthisyear, whichwill requireanadditional20people, taking the highly skilled workforce to morethan70.

Lestershas also invested £100,000 in creating its‘Recycle’ offering thatsells usedcardboard boxestoexistingand newclients lookingfor agreener andmore cost-effective wayoftransporting theirproducts.

Lesterstoday is afar cryfrom thecompany’s originswhenBilly Hutchinson’snamesake and grandfatherwas driving around selling products in theBlack Countrybackinthe 1970s.

Mr Hutchinson, whostarted workonthe shopfloorat16,is an imaginative andinspirational managerwho is notafraidtotake bravedecisions. Back in 2020, he instigated acomplete rebrandthat

movedthe business away from simply beingapackagingcompany into an end-to-end solution providerfor movinggoodsaroundthe country.

This wastough,asthe brand hadbeenestablished by hisfather andwas alreadysuccessful.

However,inorder to achievethe growth he wanted,heknewthat theproject hadtobecompleted andin2021SLesterPacking MaterialsbecameLesters

Freshideas andwaysofworking have been integrated into thecompany andrun alongside newbusiness software that is transforming theway the firm is run.

Hisinfluencecontinues outside of theLesters andhehas forged strategicallianceswithsome of the largestequipment suppliersinthe packagingworld

Mr Hutchinsonhas also become aspokesman forthe industry

LESLEY HOLLAND– JUNIPER TRAINING

BILLYHUTCHINSON –LESTERS PACKAGINGCOMPANY

ROBGITTINS–PALLETWAYSUK

Lesley Holland is themanaging director of JuniperTraining

Managing director BillyHutchinson atLesters baseinBurntwood

Managing director RobGittins headsthe 680-strong Palletways team

SINESS OF THEYEAR2023 BUSINESS THE YEAR 2023

BURKE BROS MOVING GROUP IN-COMMTRAINING SPVSPECIAL PROJECTS

Specialistremovalsbusiness BurkeBros Moving Groupisstill runbyfoundersGaryand ChrisBurke

Asecondgenerationof thefamilyisnow involved in thecompanyatBurke BrosTrading Estate,Fox’s Lane,Wolverhampton

Thebusiness wasstarted inJanuary 1982 andhas growntoemploy 50

As well as carryingout UK residentialand office removals it hasmovedinto European andinternational work.

Otherareas of activity areselfstorage andinternational shipping

SUMMIT GARAGE

Many factorshavebeen keytothe familybusiness’ continuingsuccess includingclear definedroles with Chrisoverseeing legaland financeand Gary,sales and marketing.

It hasalwaysvaluedloyalty andduringthe financialcrash, thecompany remained steadfastinlookingafterits staff, suppliers andcustomers

Thedoorisopentonew talent with BurkeBros continuing to actively recruitand train newstaff

Over anumberofyears BurkeBros hassupported ComptonCare.

Roofing expert SPVSpecial Projects isafamilybusiness at itscore.

Thecompany at Westgate,Aldridge, employs49 andworks in thecommercialand industrial sectors.

SPVoperatesnationwide undertakingcommercial roofing contractsworking foranumberoflarge blue chip clientsincluding Jones Lang Lasale, Iceland FrozenFoodsand HolidayInn

People arethe priority forthe business whichrecognises that itsstaff and stakeholders arethe key to success anda long-term future.staff retentionis

extremely high with many people within thebusiness having workedthere for morethan10years with threegenerations of some families

SPViscommitted to supportingand engaging with thecommunities it works in Director Kate Whatley is adirectorofWomenin Roofing –a notfor profit companyset up to support advancementand support in theroofing sector

SPValso partneredwith Juniperbackin2019toset up theSPV andJuniper Training Academy.

Brotherand sister management team Gareth Jones andBekki Phillips lead Aldridge-basedIn-Comm Training

Thecompany,which has itsheadquartersatVigo Place, wasformedin1982 andnow employs59.

In-Commisone of the UK’s leadingproviders of employer-ledapprenticeshipsand upskilling courses.It also offers business improvementconsultancy

Thebusiness, whichis rated‘outstanding’ by Ofsted,supports850 apprenticesand 500companies everyyear.

It operates from three world classtechnical academiesinthe Black Country andShropshire.

Therehas been a£10m investmentdrive over the last eightyears that has given learners access to state-of-the-art technology in CNCmachining,CADCAM, 3D printing, fluid power, robotics,welding, andmetrology capabilities

In-Commwas started by ColinMillsand Geoff Jones,the fatherofGareth andBekki.Ithas more than doubled in size since 2015 andisstill driven by thefounders’principles

Summit Garage (Dudley) is nowrun by athird generation of theNewey family afterbeing foundedinOctober1945.

ThefranchisedMGdealership is basedinHimleyRoad, Gornal Wood, employing18. It sellsbothnew andusedMGs andcarries outservicing andMOTs andoffersa partsdepartmentas well

Brothers Johnand Nick Newey lead thebusiness with JamesPittawaybroughtintoenhance thebusiness

Thegarageparts department is operated by Simon Barrattwho was awardedMG’sbestparts/aftersales awardsix yearsrunningto2020.

Summit

wasawarded MG’s fastestgrowing dealer award in 2018

In 2020afull refurbishmentcreated a10-carshowroom with four workbays.

Summit hasinvestedinits staff by offering apprenticeshipsand MG training andseveral membersofits team have electric vehicletraining certification

John Neweysaid: “It’snot often that afamily-runbusinesslikeSummitGaragecan competewiththe ‘big boys’, but77years in business offering a firstclass experience and servicetothe local area andbeyond showswhatcan be achieved through hard workand endeavour.”

Garage

Chris, Lauraand Gary BurkeofBurkeBrosMoving GroupOwnersGareth Jonesand Bekki PhillipsatIn-Comm

Howard Evansand Kate WhatleyofSPV Special Projects

Family business SummitGaragewas originallyfoundedbackin1945

IPUGroup hasseen huge growth in thenumber of products soldworldwide duetoinnovativeadditions to itsrange

Thecompany in Cygnus Way, West Bromwich,specialisesinthe design,manufacture anddistribution of fuel maintenanceprogrammes, engine starting systems, emissionssolutionsand engine components.

IPU, formed in 1959 and employing60, hasa customerbasethatisspread domestically andoverseas.

Therehas been particularfocus on growth in overseas markets.

IPU’srange of fuel polishing unitsare designed to maintain fuel quality

INNOVATION AWARD2023 H & AWARD 2023

andguarantee thereliabilityofback-up power.

TheEKO fuel polishing system with KaptureTechnology hasdriven alarge amount of growth within IPU.

It hasprovedtobeits best-selling fuel polishing unit ever andhas been thebiggest andmostradicalinnovationtoproducts that IPUhas seen in many years.

Thereare some notable export projects that have takenplace in thelast 12 months includingdespatching ahugelycomplicatedand comprehensive projectwiththe Government of Norway andwinning asix-figure order for startermotorsintoAsia.

Innovationisparamount forsteelsheet andplate stockholderUSP Steels

Thecompany,which was foundedsix yearsago,has experiencedrapid growth

Itsnew state-of-the-art base at Gibbons Industrial Estate,DudleyRoad, Kingswinford,has been keyto thelatestphase of growth forthe companywhich employs50.

Turnover andtonnes sold areforecasttogrowby 175per cent by theend of 2023

USPiscontinually listening to itscustomers needs to enhancegrowth, performanceand innovation

It is nowabletooffer a one-stop shop anda fully

stocked floorspace spanning 5,000sqft.

Theone-stopshophas playeda vitalroleinthe company’ssuccess as stock is so readilyavailable for customers

An additional four loadingbaysgivingatotal of sixhas enabledUSP to increase thenumberofdaily deliveriesmade.

Therapid growth would not have been possible withoutafantastic relationshipswithpartners.

In particular itsrelationship with steelhaulage firm ButlersHaulage whichhas ahighlyskilled workforce

USPhas invested in Butlers to help it expand its fleet.

LestersPackaging makesmillionsofcorrugatedboxes, largeformat packagingand heavy-duty cases each year

The40-year-old business in Mount Road, Burntwood hascontinued to push the boundaries of innovation when it comestopackaging.

It embarkedona £7 million,three-yearinvestment strategy in thelatestmachineryand technology Innovationisatthe heartofwhatLesterdoes.

It decidedthree yearsago to disruptthe largebox marketplace.

An industry-leading designcentre wasthe first investment.

State-of-the-artfacilities

meanitcan developprototypesand samplesbefore they go to production,allowing Lesterstorefine its designs.

Creating amulti-service grouphas also been crucial to development. In addition to theworld classproduction facility,Lesters also bought andturnedaround astrugglinglogistics business in Nuneaton Lestershas also introduceda newcustomerservicesteamthathandles all queries.

Goingforward itsis investinganadditional £2.5minanothernew productionline, whichis fitted with arotarydie cutter and Fossaluzzapre-feeder and auto palletiser.

IMPROVING THE RELIABILITYAND RESILIENCE OF YOUR MACHINERYSINCE 1959

IMPROVINGTHE RELIABILITY AND RESILIENCE OF YOUR MACHINERY SINCE1959

LIENCE

FUEL POLISHING &MAINTENANCE NON-ELECTRIC ENGINE STARTING GENERATOR EMISSIONS REDUCTION ON-ENGINE FILTRATION CAN-BUS SOLUTIONS HMI DISPLAYS

Managing director Louise Hazelwith some of theIPU team

InsideLesters Packaging’sstate-of-the-art factory

Ryan Baraks, Glyn Costigan,JackLokeand Doug Hill

TURING CHAMPION 2023 CHAM

VOESTALPINEMETSEC A&MEDM REPOSEFURNITURE

Steelcoldrollforming expert voestalpineMetsecis constantly drivingfor improvement.

It researches andinvests in everypractical aspect of themanufacturing process,fromdesign through to delivery.

Metsec, whichemploys 375atOldbury is thelargestbusinessofits kind in theUK.

It designsand makesa wide rangeofvalue-added solutionsfor avariety of construction andmanufacturing applications

Amanagementbuyout in 1981 sawthe company return to itsoriginalname of MetalSectionsand subsequently Metsec

Thecompany is organisedinto five divisions: customrollforming,dry lining, purlins, framingand cablemanagement.

As part of voestalpine AG,the global steeland technologygroup,Metsec is committed to achieving netzerocarbonemissions by 2035

It hasanaward-winning apprenticeship scheme.

Repose Furnitureuses only the finest materials in making itshighquality handmaderise andrecline seating.

Itsexpertiseinchair design andrise andreclinemechanismsthataid themobility impaired has helped make it an industry leader whichconstantlyinnovates.

The24-year-old company on Pensnett Trading Estate offers an extensive rangeofbespoke chairs andcan design anddeliver to almost anyspecification

Repose,which employs 110including skilled craftsmen, stands tall in transforming the quality of life of people with health andmobilityconditions.

Itscommitmenttoquality,innovation, andsustainability hasbeenthe driving forcebehindits success.

Repose hasgonethrough massivegrowthinrecent yearsand hasmovedto biggerpremises

Everymember of theRepose team is committed to ensuring it delivers quality everytime.

A&MEDM in Smethwick enjoyeda record year in 2022 as it bouncedback from lockdowns andsupply chaindisruption.

The21-year-old business in MorningtonRoad, which employs76, hadsales of £7 million

A&MEDM provides precision engineeringusingEDM spark andwire erosion, CNCmilling and turningand toolmaking for demandingindustries.

It designsand manufacture components forcustomers inthe aerospace,

automotive,Formula 1, food production,marine, production assembly and space sectors.

Thecompany is following aroadmap to grow turnover andprofitability,developing management capabilities,operating systems andsuccessionplanning.

A&MEDM investsin qualitymanagementsystems to ensure that customers receive theirproduct100 percentright first time andontime.

It planstorecruitmore apprenticesin2023.

WE HAVE BEEN RECRUITING APPRENTICES FOROVER 20 YEARS

Apprentices getinvolved in all areas of the business including IT,tool making, structural design, sales, maintenance, project engineering, pro le manipulation, customroll forming, ualit and so much more.

voestalpine Metsec plc www.metsec.com

voestalpineMetsec’sfactory at Broadwell RoadinOldbury

Theshopfloor atA&M EDM’sSmethwickfactory

Theupholstery team at Kingswinford’sReposeFurniture

WolverhamptonBusiness ImprovementDistrict’s

Wild in Wolves campaign to promote thecitycentre ranthrough thesummerof 2022

WolverhamptonBID provideswideranging services to improvethe city centre andthe tradingenvironment forcitycentre businesses

Wild in Wolves promoted Wolverhampton as an enjoyableplace forfamilies to visitduringthe school holidays.Itsaw 10 largescale, robust wild animal sculptures placed in atrail acrossthe city centre for sixweeks

Wild animalswerechosenbecause of theircolourfulvibrancyand thestrong

contrast betweenWolverhampton’surban environment andtheir natural junglehabitat

Visitors to thecitywere greetedbyagiraffe at the train stationand ahippo at thebus station. Therewas agorillainQueen Square andanelephantinStPeter’sGardens.

Thecampaignwas promotedacrossthe wholeof theWestMidlandsacross multipleplatforms,bothofflineand online

Visitors registered their detailsona website and couldthentrack their progress by scanning QR codes. Thosewho scanned all10wereentered into a draw to winanEnjoy Wolverhamptongift card

Stafford’s Tillymint CommunicationshelpedThe PetIndustryFederation find itsvoice.

Themarketingcommunicationsbusiness runby AlisonGallagher-Hughes wasapproached by PIF,a tradeassociation forthe pettradewith2,000 members,inearly 2021 to provide contentfor itsnew bi-monthly newsletter.

Tillymintput forward an alternative proposal to manage theentireproduction –thusreducingthe impact on PIF’ssmall operations team

The firstissue of PIF Matterswas publishedin May2021. It hasbeenwell received by membersand provided aspringboardfor

theintroductionofa new corporateidentitywhich hassubsequentlybeen usedacrossavariety of channels

In JanuarylastyearPIF commissioned Tillymint to develop itsnew website Thefederationneeded a better digitalplatformto communicateits aims to members, prospectsand widerpublic; providinga functional,easy-to-navigate front-end, integrated with customerrelationship management software

Theproject gotunderwayinJunelastyear.

It wasdecided to progressthe buildinthree phases Find aPet Servicewent live in February this year

TheLaddercampaignhas been developed by Walsall-basedPTP Training to market theapprenticeship brandinthe West Midlands.

SinceThe Ladderfor theBlack Countrybegan in 2014 it hasresultedin thousandsofnew starts Amedia campaign showcased theapprenticeship brandthrough keypartners such as theExpress &Star, theBlack Country ChamberofCommerceand four councils

Theproject hassince expanded to Shropshire, Staffordshire, Greater Birmingham andmostrecently Coventryand Warwickshire, with morethan 5,000 Ladderapprentice-

ship starts. Legacy projectsinclude amulti-million poundLadderschool in Walsall, apprenticeship hubs in Shropshireand Staffordshireand a‘have ago’ skillsacademy in Birmingham

The firstBlack Country LadderAwardswas held in Wolverhamptonlastyear.

Therehas been investment in Ladderwebsites andmedia platforms.

This year sees the Ladder expand itsschoolengagement to ensure appropriate andunbiasedinformation advice andguidance.

A‘gold star’programme encourages employersto committopayingtheir apprenticesatleast theliving wage

BID’sShaun BoycewithWild in Wolves campaign posters

Membersofthe PerformanceThrough People team

Alison Gallagher-Hughes of TillymintCommunications