Celebrations at Staffordshire communications company awarded King's Award for Enterprise

Hednesford-based Mobell Communications was among 12 top achieving firms in the West Midlands named as recipients of the prestigious King's Award for Enterprise on Tuesday May 6.

The company, which operates from a disused coalmine site, was recognised in the international trade category of the awards in recognition of its impressive growth which has seen turnover double in three years.

Director Vince Owen said: "We're just delighted. It's a real honour to have the King's Award for International Trade."

Mr Owen's uncle Tony Smith founded the company in 1989 - taking on premises in Hednesford on a disused coalmine site and it has grown into a family of brands dedicated to providing travellers with connectivity solutions, with the proceeds of the business invested into charitable causes that help disadvantaged children.

Mr Owen said: "It's a really unusual story."

The company, based in Walkers Rise off Rugeley Road, began renting cutting edge cellular phone technology in the 1980s to businesses that needed to keep connected from hard-to-reach locations.

Today it provides a suite of global connectivity solutions, including specialised services which allow long and short term travellers to Japan, plus Japanese speakers in the USA, to keep in touch with home through a network that supports them in their native language.

The business also offers internationally renowned world phone and SIM products, which allow international jetsetters to use a single device wherever they are in the world - without incurring roaming charges.

Frustrated by the difficulty of keeping in touch with friends, family and colleagues while travelling overseas, founder Tony Smith established the company when the first mobile phones were developed.

In addition to keeping people connected, the company is in the business of charitable giving and over more than a decade it has grown a network of charitable partners - with the majority of its profits ploughed into good causes to help change the world for the better.

Proceeds go to Krizevac - which provides education and sets up enterprises and support for vulnerable people in disadvantaged areas of Africa; Seibo - an international school feeding NGO headquartered in Japan; and Warm Hearts Coffee Club, which produces Fairtrade coffee in Malawi that raises money for Seibo to support school feeding in Malawi.

Mr Owen told of his pride and joy at being involved in a company that is dedicated to trying to change the world from its humble base in Staffordshire and his delight that its endeavours have been recognised at the highest level. 

He said: "The award is because of the outstanding growth that we've seen in the last three years.

"We've doubled in less than three years in terms of turnover - and it's still growing year on year. We're in a good place.

"It has also been outstanding to give £2.7million to charities."

He said it was especially a feat for a small business, with 32 staff based in Hednesford and Tokyo, headquartered on a disused coalmine and he added: "It's been really good fun being part of Mobell.

"The company is one of more than 8,000 UK businesses awarded the Royal recognition since the accolades were first created in 1965 when they were known as The Queen's Award to Industry. 

Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II they were renamed The King's Awards for Enterprise after King Charles III ascended to the throne.

Businesses awarded the Royal honour are recommended by the Prime Minister and approved by His Majesty The King.

The awards will be presented to local recipients at a later date by The King’s representatives - His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenants. A representative from each winning business will also be invited to a Royal reception event.

Award recipients also have the honour of being able to fly The King’s Award flag at their main office, and use the emblem on their marketing materials for five years. They also receive a Grant of Appointment, an official certificate, and a commemorative trophy.

The Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands, Derrick Anderson CBE, said the award is recognised internationally and is able to ‘open doors’ to many UK and worldwide opportunities.

He praised the recipients honoured and said: “Each company is inspiring – to their staff, their suppliers and to their customers – and all serve as an endorsement for the hard work, creativity and ingenuity of the West Midlands. All of us in the West Midlands can be proud of their achievements."