E&S ESBA Winners 13th June 23

HEADLINESPONSORS

ASSOCIATE SPONSORS:

MEET THEWINNERS

S&STAR WARDS2023 #ESBA23

WINNEROFFAMILYBUSINESS OF THEYEAR

Atraining business led by abrother andsister took home theFamily Business of theYearaccolade.

Bekki Phillips of In-Comm Training in Aldridge said:“This is forour dadGeoff Jones,who started this companywithhis business partnerColin Mills.

“Wehavetried to live up to his legacy.”

Sheischief operations offerand brotherGarethJones is managing director of the41-year-old business

Thepresentationwas madeby RichardBullfromcategorysponsor

Crowein Oldbury

Success

Bekki said that theteamatInComm wasa bigpartofthe success of thetrainingbusiness, whichsupports850 apprenticesand 500companies everyyear.

“The management team that we have putinplace hasled us to whereweare now,”she added.

Judges were impressedathow InComm hadinvested in newfacilities andstate-of-the-artequipment to grow profits

They said that Gareth andBekki hadworkedclosely together to build on thefamilylegacyand hadcreat-

ed abusinessthatwas focusedon thefuture.

In-Commwas also said to have a vibrantatmosphere.

Thecompany,which hasits headquarters at VigoPlace, is aleading provider of apprenticeshipsand trainingcourses.

Itsfounders, both experienced industrialists, hadwanted to make sure industry hadaccess to thevery best apprenticeshipsand skillsdelivery.

In-Comm, rated‘outstanding’ by Ofsted,now operates from three world-class technical academiesin theBlack Countryand Shropshire

Over thelasteight yearsthere hasbeena£10 million investment in state-of-the-art technologyincludingCNC machining,CADCAM, 3D printing,roboticsand welding.

Thecompany hasmorethandoubled in size since2015.

During thepandemicitwas able to flip learning online andthen manage therestrictions.

Thebrother andsisterhavesuccessfullygrown thebusinesstoa record £2.4mturnover by theend of 2022,which represented a£1m increasesinceearly 2021

Theofficiallaunchofits Telford Academygaveitanother 20,000 sq ft of manufacturingtrainingspace

WINNEROFMANUFACTURING CHAMPION

Award2023

Theexcellent recoverythatSmethwick-basedA&M EDMhad made from thepandemichelpedlanditthe titleof ManufacturingChampion.

Production director LeeFinch put down thesuccess of thecompany, whichprovidesprecision engineering usingEDM spark andwireerosion, CNCmilling andturning andtoolmaking,toarealteameffort.

MichaelBrooksfromCollins Aerospace,which sponsoredthe category, presented theaward.

Judges said that A&MEDM had showed incredible growth andpraised the“brilliant” workplace cultureat thebusinesswhere everyone wassaid

to be on boardwithits strategies and taking pride in wheretheyworked.

Mr Finchsaidthere wasarealcollectiveteameffortat A&MEDM and everyone hadcontributed in bouncing back from Covid-19 whichhad involved findingnew sectorstoserve

“Wehavecontinually invested in newtechnologyand re-investedin strengtheningthe business,” he added.

From itsoriginalfactory in Mornington Road, A&MEDM hadadded asecondsiteonParkroseIndustrial Estate

The21-year-old business employs76 andachievedrecord salesof£7million last year

Celebrating successasFamilyBusiness of theYear is theteam from In-Comm Training in Aldridge

Theteam from A&MEDM in Smethwickwith theManufacturingChampion award

#ESBA23 EXPRESS&STAR BUSINESSAWARDS2023

WINNEROFBUSINESS OF THEYEAR

Theremarkable growth in turnoverand profits by USPSteelsofKingswinford over thelast five yearslandedthe top prizeinthe 2023 Express &StarBusinessAwards.

Express& Star managing director Matt Ross handed over the Business of theYearaward to the thrilled teamfromUSP,just12 monthsafter winningthe Young Business title.

USPsucceeded HomeserveFurniture Repairs, nowEmmiera Group, whowon the2022award.

Judges saidthatUSP Steels, whichwas oneof five finalistsin thehotly-contested category really stood outdue to itshugegrowth.

Thecompany at Gibbons IndustrialEstate, whichlaunchedin 2017,was praisedfor itsinvestment in staffwelfare.Judges were also impressedbythe investmentthat thecompany hadmadeinits new premises whichopenedlastyear.

Managing director Ryan Baraks said he wasproud andhumbled to have wonthe topaward.

He said that USPwas quite grounded andknewwhere it had come from to achievesuccess

USPoriginated as adivisionof United Steels in 2008,justasthe global recessionkickedin. Owner Glyn Costigan boughtthe steel

stockholding business whichbecame USPeight yearslater.The business hasgrown to be selling 15,000 tonnes of steelamonth

Mr Baraks said themovefrom itsold home on thesameestatehad given thebusinessextra facilities andresources. “Weare still bedding in andgetting ourfeetunder

thetable,but thefoundations arein placefor USPSteelstoachieve further growth,”headded.

l TheExpress &Starsponsors thebusinessofthe year category andMrRosssaidhe spentthree days outinthe fieldvisiting finalists, whichhad been a“joyfuland amazing” experience.Hesaid: “One

keytheme shonethrough –strength in thefaceofadversity.Manybusinesses faced unique challenges duringthe pandemic andstareddown theabyss wonderingwhether they wouldsurvive “Necessity is themotherofall invention andmanyofthose here tonightmadeinnovationthe key

enablertomeetand exceed customer expectations in achallenging environment.”

He said that judges had been impressedby theinvestmentinstaff welfareof finalists. He thanked allsponsors andsaidthatwithoutthemthe newspapercould not showcasethe finalistsand winners.

USPSteelsfromKingswinfordcelebrates itsBusinessofthe Year awardDelightedcommercial director Jack LockefromUSP Steels with theaward

S&STAR WARDS2023 #ESBA23

Bigsmiles as E&S awards boosttheatre

JOHN CORSER

Business Editor

TheExpress &Star Business Awards once againprovedabig hit with both winnersand thosewho missed outon taking home aprize.

Theawards, attended by 320 smiling guests,wereheldinthe EBCTechnologySuite at WolverhamptonRacecourse wherecomedian AaronJames wasthe host for thesecondyearinarow

Theevening raisedmorethan £2,350 forthe Wolverhampton GrandTheatre charity.

Director Adrian Jacksonsaidthe theatre,which celebrates 130years in 2024,did alot ofworkinthe community andineducating young peopleabout theatre,including school visits andperformances. He said thetheatre also hadanimportant Memory Cafe whichworks with people sufferingfromdementia.

Part of thefundraising funinvolved aPlayYourCards Right competitionfor everyone whomade adonationonthe night

Neil Richardson from voestalpine Metsectookhome the£150prize

TheExpress &StarBusiness Awards 2023was held atWolverhampton Racecourse with 320guestsattending toenjoy thethree-course dinner

Comedian AaronJameskept guestsentertained with hisjokes

MatthewRandlewith TedBatham from DreamlandBedding Centre

Membersofthe management team from theBlack CountryChamber of Commerceenjoying thebig night at Wolverhampton Racecourse

Neil Richardson wasthe Play Your CardsRightwinneratthe awards

TheExpress &StarBusinessPerson of theYear winner RobGittins from Palletways UK makes hisway to thestage to loud applause from guests

Therewerelot of smiles from both winnersand allthe other finaliststhrough thenight at theExpress &Star Business Awards,which wasonceagain held in theEBC TechnologySuite at Wolverhampton Racecourse

Guests enjoying thefun eveningat Wolverhampton Racecourse

The2023BusinessPersonofthe Year wasRob GittinsofPalletwaysUK.

Themanagingdirectorofthe palletisedfreight delivery networkreceived theaward from Paul Faulkner of category sponsors Richardson

Judges were unanimous that Mr Gittinsshouldbethe winner

They said that he hadapositiveinfluenceona largeworkforce andwas equallycomfortable on theshopfloor andinthe boardroom.

Mr Gittinssaidhewas “humbled”to have wonand that theaward wasfor allthe people whoworkedfor himat Palletways UK

Thebusinesshas itsheadquartersat

FradleyDistributionPark, near Lichfield.

Palletways has850 people working in theUK. Thewider Palletways group hasits headquarters in Switzerland andapresencein 19 countries.

“Thisaward is alldowntothe people whoworkfor me.Itisreallytheir award–not mine,” said Mr Gittins, whobecamemanagingdirectorin 2017.Heled thecompany throughthe pandemic andhas seen Palletways UK achieverecordyears forbothvolume andrevenue in 2021 and2022.

Mr Gittinshas hand-pickeda strong senior management team andworks closely with thewider team.

Allthe Express&StarBusinessAwardswinners on stagefor thegroup photographatthe endofthe ceremony

Billyand Emma Hutchinson from LestersPackaging posefor thecamera StafffromBusinessofthe Year winner USPSteels

MNAchairmanTom Graham,left, with MD MattRoss

Rob Gittins–PalletwaysUK

Rob Gittins, left,receives hisaward on stagefromPaulFaulknerofRichardson

S&STAR WARDS2023 #ESBA23

WINNEROFYOUNG BUSINESS OF THEYEAR2023

Rapid Pack Fulfilment from Oldburyimpressed Express&StarBusiness Awards judges with its incredible rate of growth.

George Carver from theYoung Business of theYearcategorysponsors CarversBuildingSuppliespresented theaward to thedelighted team

Chiefexecutive BenSlatersaid he was“amazed andsurprised” to take home theaward

“Ithas been abusy20months for RapidPackFulfilmentand it is really nice andtouchingtoberecognisedlikethis.

“Weworkreallyhardwithall our clients.”

Impressed

Judges were also impressedwith theexpertindustryknowledge that wassaidtohaveattracted anumber of high-end customers from acrossa rangeofsectors

RapidPackwas also describeda companythatwas readyfor anythingand primed forgrowth.

Thecompany basedatJunction

TwoIndustrialEstate, Demuth Way, employseight people after originallystartingoperationsin

July 2021.The business beganina much smallerwarehouse basedin Erdington, Birmingham,withjust two membersofstaff,which included founderMrSlaterand thecurrent head of operations RajSharma.

Starting with justahandful of clients, Rapid Pack grew rapidly andayearago operations were movedtothe much larger facility in Oldbury

Thethird partylogistics company works with e-commercesellers to fulfiltheir orders.

It now hasmorethan50active clients, mainly small-sizedbusinesses,and continuestoexperience growth

Rapid Pack,which haswon several awards in itsyoung life, sees itself as achallengerbrand forthe industry

Thecompany haspraisedthe supportthathas been given by the BlackCountry ChamberofCommercesince itsfoundationand is creating freshjob opportunities.

Rapid Pack hasalso been creatingapprenticeships with thehelpof Sandwell College.

Itsfuturegoalistoreallystand outfromthe crowdasan e-commerceenabler as aone-stopshop fore-commercesellers andonline brands in regardstologistics,business supportand data insights

WINNEROFGROWTHAND INNOVATION AWARD

LestersPackagingcelebratedits thirdExpress &StarBusiness Awardthisyear.

Thecompany from Burntwood wascrowned as Growth andInnovation Awardwinner for2023.

It followedsuccess as both Manufacturing Championand Smallto Medium SizedBusinesswinner in 2022

Thegrowthand innovationcategorywas sponsoredbyEmmiera Group, of Brierley Hill, andits boss JamesLane–Business Person of theYearin2022–madethe presentation to thecompany,which makesmillionsofboxed andpackingcases annually

Judges said that innovationwas at theheart of everything that the 40-year-oldbusinessdid

Growing

They were impressedthatthe growingand forward-thinking companywas taking on another20 staffthisyeartotakethe workforce to 70

Managing director BillyHutchinson, whowas also a finalist in Business Personofthe Year for2023, wasdelightedtohaveahat-trick of Express&Starawards.

“I am veryproud of everyone at LestersPackaging.

“You arenothing withouta team andyou can’tgrowwithout having

good peoplearoundyou –aone-man army deliversnothing,” addedMr Hutchinson.

Lesterswerealso finalistsinthe overallBusinessofthe Year category

Thefast-growingbusiness, which is basedinMount Road,has embarked on a£7million,three-year investment strategy to equipitwith thelatestmachinery andtechnology

It hasstate-of-theart facilities includinganindustry-leadingdesign centre

It is investing£2.5million in a newproduction line fitted with arotary diecutterand pre-feeder and auto palletiser

Lestershas also created acustomerservicesteamtohandleall itsenquiries.

Thecompany hascontinued to push theboundariesofinnovation when it comestopackaging.

It is on target to achieve£25 million salesin2023, whichis proving to be anothertransformationalyear forthe business afteritdoubled turnover from £6min2021to£13m last year

Thefamilybusinesshas deep rootsinBurntwood andmanyof itsteammembers have been with Lestersfor many years.

It rebrandedfromSLesterPackingMaterials to become Lesters Packagingin 2021

RapidPackFulfi

lmentfromOldbury wasproudtotakehomethe YoungBusinessofthe Year Award

LestersPackaging

LestersPackaging from Burntwood with theGrowthand Innovation Awardonstage at theracecourse

#ESBA23

Ravi Ram-Ge from Fordhouses,Wolverhampton said that he wasontop of theworld afterhewas announcedasthe winnerofApprenticeofthe Year.

Thedelighted21-year-old,who works forConcero UK in Wolverhampton, waspresented with his awardbyNeilThomasfromthe BlackCountry andMarches InstituteofTechnology, whichsponsoredthe category

Ravi,who is saidtohaveexcellent customerhandlingskills, said that he wasecstaticatbeing recognised with theaward

Enthusiasm

Thejudges saidthatthe enthusiasmand positivity he displayedin hisworkfor Concerowas infectious They said he wasanoutstanding member of histeamwho always went above andbeyondtosolve customers’problems.

He waspraised as an incredible role modelwho haddemonstrated that difficultiescould be overcome to achievedreams.

“Going throughthe apprenticeship processatConcero hasbeena joy,” said Ravi,who joined thecom-

BUSINESSAWARDS2023

THEYEAR2023

pany,which supports educationorganisationsbydesigning,building anddeliveringspecialist technology services,support andsolutions, in October2020.

“I have overcome my disability andIfeellikeIhaveaccomplished

everything that Iwanted to,” he added.

Ravi,who hascerebralpalsy,Asperger’s syndrome andispartially sighted, hadpreviouslywon the BritishComputing SocietyITInfrastructure andNetworksappren-

tice of theyearaward last year He passed hisapprenticeship with amerit in December andworks on thehelpdeskatthe business in ComptonRoad

Ravi hashis ownfan base among Concerocustomers whowantto

speaktohim aheadofany other supporttechnicianatthe business He is describedasa joy to work with andfantastic with customers. In everyopportunitythatRavi hasbeengiven he is said to have excelled

Ravi Ram-Ge–Concero UK Ltd WINNEROFAPPRENTICE OF

Ravi Ram-Gecelebrates beingnamed as 2023 Apprentice of theYear

Theteam at Concerowas delightedand thrilled by Ravi’s award

S&STAR WARDS2023

WINNEROFSMALL TO MEDIUM SIZED BUSINESS OF THEYEAR2023

Legionella andFire Safe Services came out on topinthe Smallto Medium SizedBusiness category whichhad four finaliststhisyear.

Judges were highly impressed with theLichfield-based company whichhas growninjustsix years from seven to more than 60 employees.

They said it hadaveryclear

WINNEROFBEST MARKETING CAMPAIGN

anddefinite companyvisionand a fantasticbusinessculture

KatieWillemsfromlaw firm HiggsLLP,who sponsoredthe category,presented theaward to theteam. Managing director SteveMorriswas delightedat theachievements of thebusiness, whichmovedfromRugeley to Lichfieldin2021. He said he was “absolutelyshocked”tohavewon andeverything wasdowntohis team whoreallydeserved therec-

ognition.“Youare nothing withoutthe people.You canhavethe vision andideas fora business but withoutateamwewould not have deliveredwhatwehaveachieved.

“Iamsopleased at this award forthe wholeteamatLegionella andFireSafeServices.

“Weare so proudofwhatwe have done in sixyears andIam so proudtosee theteamwinning somethingasprestigiousasan Express&Staraward,” he said

Successfulefforts to bringextra tradeand familiesintoWolverhampton’scitycentre landed the best marketingcampaignaward

NatalieCoughlanfromsponsors MNADigital presented the awardtothe teamfromWolverhamptonBusinessImprovement District Company.

TheWildinWolvescampaign ranthrough thesummer of 2022 andinvolveda trail of wild animal sculptures during theschoolhol-

idays. Judges were impressedby theuniqueand impressive campaignthatusedamix of traditional anddigital marketingtoreach itstargetaudience.

TheBID teamwas said to be deliveringthe verybestfor the peopleand businesses in thecity centre

WolverhamptonBID managing director Cherry Shinesaid: “I’m verysurprisedand overjoyed to have won.

“WildinWolveswas agreat success andwewill be repeating some of theconceptswitha dinosaur-themedcampaignthisyear,” sheadded.

WolverhamptonBID is holding itsown excellence awards on July 13.

“Itisthe firsttimesuchawards have been runinthe city andwe have hada fantasticamountofinterest from city centre businesses,” said Cherry

Legionella and Fire Safe Services from Lichfieldwas thrilledtobenamed SmalltoMediumSized Business

Legionella andFireSafeServices

WolverhamptonBID CompanyLtd

TheWolverhampton BID team received the BestMarketing Campaign awardfromNatalie Coughlan, right