Region's top firms honoured
A capacity audience at the Black Country's biggest conference venue witnessed scenes of triumph and delight at a night celebrating home-grown success for the region's businesses.
Click here for full photo gallery on Best of Black Country site
The Express & Star's glittering Best of the Black Country Awards event at Wolverhampton's Dunstall Park attracted a packed house of around 500 people, on hand to witness the achievements of men and women who combined the area's traditional business know-how with commitment and entrepreneurial flair.
The fifth year of the awards attracted a range of businesses and public sector organisations viewing for nine awards and ITV Central news presenter Arti Halai, as compere, had the job of reining in their enthusiasm to keep the evening rolling along on track.
The top prize of the night went to Aqualux Products, a shower manufacturer employing 240 people in Wednesbury, which picked up both the Business of the Year award and a cheque for £1,000.
The announcement sparked an explosion of delight from the Aqualux delegation: punching the air, whooping and cheering. In addition to their award the firm was presented with a £1,000 cheque by Express & Star managing director Alan Harris.
A delighted Aqualux managing director, James Cadman, said: "We are chuffed as anything - we were up against seriously tough competition for the award and we are very proud of this achievement.
"This is recognition for everything we have all achieved at Aqualux over the last four years. Everyone at the firm will be really, really pleased."
The evening also saw a return to his roots for the Governor of the Bank of England, Mervyn King, who was brought up and educated in Wolverhampton. As keynote speaker last night he was full of praise for the resurgence of the Black Country, describing the award winners as "shining examples" of successful business.
Mr King awarded his own "Governor's Award" to Wolverhampton-based engineering group Trac Tools and its 41-year-old managing director, Leigh Robinson, for the drive and entrepreneurial spirit that had turned a small family-owned engineering company into an international tooling business.
One of the biggest cheers of the night greeted the announcement that Wolverhampton-based construction firm J&G Building had scooped the Black Country Champions Award. Contracts manager Kevin Conway said the firm was "absolutely delighted" to have picked up a Best of the Black Country award for the third year running.
There was also sustained applause for holidays entrepreneur John Donnelly, managing director of Harvey World Travel (UK) at Cannock, who was presented with the Outstanding Business Achievement Award. John Donnelly said: "It's a fantastic feeling. It's an old cliche but it really is for the people who worked with me and got me here tonight.
"I am the leader, the innovator and ideas man, but you need the people behind you to catch the ideas and make it happen."
As the country's second largest supplier of stairlifts, bath lifts and platforms, Kingswinford-based Minivator's Business Growth Award was justly deserved. The Kingswinford firm has expanded from a £7 million company to a £28 million company in just five years, while increasing the number of employees fourfold.
Judges were strongly impressed with its strong team ethic and the award was clearly appreciated by jubilant staff when it was announced. Chief executive Mike Lord said: "We are absolutely delighted. The company has been incredibly successful over the last four or five years and this award is for all the people in the business."
In a strong night for Black Country manufacturing there were more big celebrations from staff at Brownhills' Lodent Precision when they won the Technology and Business Improvement Award.
Another big winner of the evening was the Macmillan Cancer Support charity, with £3,213 raised from a prize draw on the night from big-hearted guests which will be added to more than £9,000 already raised by the Express & Star's Thanks For Your Support fund-raising campaign.
Draw prizes included a £1,000 diamond pendant donated by Wolverhampton jewellers TA Henn as well as unique works of art created by students at the University of Wolverhampton.
The biggest business awards event in the Black Country calendar, Best of the Black Country this year was backed by Bank of Scotland Corporate, Advantage West Midlands, the Learning & Skills Council, business advisors BDO Stoy Hayward, NTL: Telewest Business, Wolverhampton Telford Technology Corridor, the Black Country Consortium, the Arc of Opportunity and Future Foundations regeneration zones, ITV Central and Westfield Merry Hill.
Report by Simon Penfold and Julian Seva
