Six north and north-east firms have been recognised among the latest Queen’s Awards for Enterprise.
Companies celebrating success this morning include a business on the Black Isle, three Aberdeen firms and two based in Aberdeenshire.
The winning six, including three food industry firms and a trio working in the oil and gas sector, have been honoured for achievements in international trade.
Avoch-based award winner FAO27 – named after the North Sea fishing grid reference – is a sales export vehicle for small-scale seafood processors and fishing boats.
During the past three years the company has been almost exclusively export focused, doubling its small workforce and growing sales by nearly 170%.
FAO27 managing director Anne Moseley said: “This is a wonderful recognition for the company and in particular for the local fishermen, salmon farmers and seafood processors we are honoured to work for.
“The Scottish fishing fleet is vital to the economy and deserves to be widely appreciated.”
Flowline Specialists, based in Oldmeldrum, has earned its award after growing overseas sales by 2,600% to £3.4million over the six years to March 2015, with exports now making up 55% of total turnover. Staff numbers grew from eight to 55 over the same period.
Established in 2001, the firm designs, engineers and manufactures equipment to handle flexible pipes, umbilicals and cables for global oil and gas, subsea and renewable-energy markets.
Alongside its Oldmeldrum headquarters and a manufacturing facility in Fyvie, the company has bases in Norway, the Netherlands, Singapore and Dubai.
Flowline Specialists chief executive Jim Smith said the Queen’s Award acknowledged “the hard work, dedication and focus that every employee has shown in helping to drive the business forward internationally”.
Another Aberdeenshire firm, Westhill-based caterer Entier, has triumphed after growing overseas sales by 167% in just three years. The company’s exports more than doubled as a percentage of total turnover, to 35%, over the same period.
Entier chief executive Peter Bruce said: “Our company’s strong focus on people development, relationships with the communities where we operate and close supplier relationships in the international arena, has played a key role in our overseas growth. This has allowed us to think global and act local, which our clients understand and respect.”
Oil and gas industry-focused HRH Geology – based in Bridge of Don, Aberdeen – has been recognised for “outstanding” growth in overseas sales, thanks partly to a matrix approach to selling across different geographic regions and product lines.
With a turnover of £11million, the firm achieved international sales of more than £6million for the financial year ending March 2015.
Its latest Queen’s Award comes just three years after it scooped one for continuous achievement in international trade.
HRH managing director Dawood Khan said: “It is a great honour to receive our second Queen’s Award in such a short space of time and a testament to the hard work of our staff.”
Dyce-based Online Valves, which manufactures all types of valves and pipe fittings for the global oil and gas industry, impressed Queen’s Awards judges with export sales growth of 840% over three years.
The company now sells in 27 markets worldwide, has overseas offices in the US and Trinidad and is in the process of opening an base in Dubai.
“Receiving the Queen’s Award is a great honour that will undoubtedly raise our profile and open many new doors for us,” Online Valves director Dave Sim said, adding: “To upturn the trends and receive this award in this current slump in oil and gas markets is an incredible achievement.”
John Ross Jr (Aberdeen) supplies fish and meat to hotels, restaurants and caterers in 36 countries. Main export markets are currently Greece, Germany, Dubai, Belgium and Italy.
Overseas sales have grown by more than 200% over the past six years, helping the firm to a Queen’s Award for International Trade for continuous growth.
Christopher Leigh, the company’s managing director, said: “The Queen’s Award is for me the definitive recognition of success and a very humbling seal of approval.”
A total of 243 businesses across the UK have received a new Queen’s Award for Enterprise, recognising their contribution to international trade, innovation and sustainable development.
The six north and north-east successes are among 19 around Scotland, which is nearly double last year’s total for north of the border.
Other Scottish winners include 13 firms across the central belt, plus Merlin ERD of Perth and Arbroath-based Interplex PMP.
The awards – now in their 50th year – are made annually by the Queen to acknowledge the highest levels of excellence in each category.
Winners are visited by a royal representative and presented with a crystal bowl as a mark of their achievement.
They are also invited to attend a reception at Buckingham Palace and entitled to use the prestigious award emblem in their advertising, marketing and packaging for five years.
Announcing this year’s successes, Businesses Secretary Sajid Javid said: “The Queen’s Awards are a great way of celebrating the best of British business.
“Whether you’re a disruptive start-up making life easier for your customers or a large company with a blockbuster product, these awards recognise your contribution to enterprise.
“We are a country full of exciting and innovative businesses that deserve to be celebrated. I’d like to commend all the winners for their hard work in creating jobs for people and driving our growing economy.”
