King's Award honour is testament to 'hard work and dedication' - Wednesbury winners say

Wednesbury-based Exol Lubricants, the UK's largest independent lubricants company, supplying automotive, agricultural, rail and industrial applications to more than 40 countries, is among 12 top achieving firms in the West Midlands honoured with the King's Award for Enterprise.

Exol has been recognised in the international trade category of the awards, it was announced today (Tuesday May 6), in recognition of its outstanding growth in overseas markets, which has been achieved through a combination of long-term strategic planning, high quality products and a commitment to excellent customer service.  

With export markets spanning more than 45 countries, including Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, the company has established itself as a trusted global supplier of high-performance lubricants for automotive, industrial, agricultural, off-highway and commercial applications for more than 40 years. 

Steve Everitt, managing director at Exol Lubricants, said he and his colleagues were "immensely proud" to receive the award which he said was "testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team, both in the UK and across our global distribution network".

He added:  “We’ve always believed in building strong, long-term partnerships and delivering the highest quality products backed by expert support - and this award recognises the impact of that approach on a global scale.” 

Committed to investing in people, manufacturing, customer service and logistics - the firm recently expanded its Wednesbury headquarters, increasing its total footprint and strengthening its supply chain as well as increasing stockholding capabilities and improving facilities for the team. 

The brand has also invested in a new fully automated bag-in-box machine to support a growing demand for packaging which is fully recyclable within the lubricants market. 

While future investment in new blending facilities aims to support growth in niche segments in the market such as biodegradable lubricants. 

The investments are in addition to continuous upgrades to the Exol transport fleet and energy-saving technologies implemented - including a large-scale solar panel installation and automated liquid transfer system at its blending plant to improve efficiency by reducing product waste and increasing output. The firm also works to retain top talent and encourage development, promoting from within and aiming to keep long-serving employees.

Directors Steve Dunn and Steve Everitt, export sales manager Paul Eastwood and export coordinator Alison Morris have more than 100 years’ combined service between them, which has been instrumental in building the trust between Exol and its customers at home and abroad over the years. 

Paul Eastwood said: “It’s a fantastic achievement for everyone at Exol to win the King’s Award. We’ve applied before and missed out, so to finally receive it now is an immense feeling. We’ve made big changes to how we operate internationally, from container loading and documentation to how we support customers day-to-day.

"Winning this award tells us we’re doing everything right. 

“Export is all about trust - our customers trust us to deliver quality, support, high levels of service and consistency and we ask for that trust in return from our customers at home and abroad. And it’s this trust and commitment from both sides that has meant we’ve maintained long-term relationships across the globe and achieved successful growth. And the King’s Award now validates that.” 

Exol has risen above numerous challenges – from the global pandemic and Brexit to rising costs and political unrest – but these have been met head on and, after more than 40 years in business, the company remains committed to continued growth and delivering excellence to customers around the world.

The firm is one of more than 8,000 UK businesses awarded the Royal recognition since the accolades were first created in 1965.They were previously known as The Queen's Award to Industry but were renamed The King's Awards for Enterprise as 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.

His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenants – The King’s representatives – will present the awards to businesses locally at a later date. A representative from each winning business will also be invited to a special 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 King’s Award for Enterprise is recognised worldwide as the ultimate and greatest business accolade.

“The award process for the King’s Award for Enterprise is rigorous and demanding – with a forensic approach to assessment that probes every aspect of the company and goes well beyond the area for which the business is being recognised. In consequence, it is recognised internationally and is able to ‘open doors’ to many UK and worldwide opportunities."