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Healthy profits, growth and diversity resulted in Sir Peter Rigby’s Rigby Group picking up the 2013 Family Business of the Year award in the PwC-sponsored Private Business Awards.

The award recognised the performance of the business which saw the Birmingham-based Specialist Computer Holdings division post record profits.

Judges also praised the group’s diversity following the expansion of the group’s aviation interests with the acquisition of Exeter Airport and British International Helicopters.

Specialist Computer Holdings had the best year in its 38-year history. Europe’s largest privately-owned technology group saw impressive growth for the year to March, 2013.

Pre-tax profits at the group hit £108.8 million, up from £29.4 million the previous year, growth in all territories across Europe. More than £130 million net profit was realised from the £222.1 million disposal of technology distribution business SDG in November 2012, although the disposal added costs at the operating level.

Net assets of the group jumped from £167 million to £283.6 million following recent acquisitions.

In May last year, Sir Peter’s Patriot Aerospace acquired British International Helicopter Services, making it the º£½ÇÊÓƵ’s largest domestically-owned helicopter operator.

The combined businesses operate a fleet of 25 helicopters and employ more than 100 people. Following the acquisition the group re-organised its Coventry-based aviation division, unifying all helicopter operations under the British International Helicopter Services brand.