A dairy business, an organic skincare brand and a carbon capture technology firm are among the South West winners of the King鈥檚 Awards for Enterprise 2024.
A total of 17 companies from across the region were presented with the prestigious accolade this year. Businesses are selected for outstanding achievements in innovation, international trade, sustainable development and promoting opportunity through social mobility. The award is valid for five years.
Among the winners in the West of England is Devon-based Millbrook Dairy which scooped its first King鈥檚 Award for international trade.
The dairy, in Bideford, was founded in 2019 by David Evans and Kevin Beer, who had worked together for more than 30 years. The business buys and sells cheese and butter, and in its first year of trading turned over 拢15m, outperforming its initial expectations by more than 500%. By 2023 Millbrook had achieved a turnover of over 拢42m.
The company's overseas sales have grown over three years by 109%, with Millbrook now operating across Europe, the Middle East, North America, and Asia-Pacific.
鈥淲hen we started on our journey in 2019, we never thought the business would grow in the way it has and especially during the turbulent trading periods that have been in place,鈥 said Mr Beer and Mr Evans. 鈥淔or us, winning a King鈥檚 Award for Enterprise and being recognised by the highest business awards in the land is a remarkable achievement and a very big honour.鈥
Bristol-based carbon capture specialists OCO Technology were also among this year鈥檚 South West winners. The 拢30m-turnover firm, which employs 120 people around the 海角视频, was presented with an award for sustainable development.
The company鈥檚 pioneering tech treats air pollution control residues, predominantly from energy from waste facilities, with carbon dioxide gas. The process transforms it into an artificial aggregate which is carbon negative.
The firm鈥檚 Avonmouth plant, established in 2015, employs 40 people and is home to the company鈥檚 main research and development laboratories, and its manufacturing line which has the capacity to process up to 60,000 tonnes of residues a year.
OCO Technology鈥檚 chief executive Steve Greig, said: 鈥淲e are hugely proud to be awarded such a prestigious honour, cementing our reputation as the clear 海角视频 market leader in carbon mineralisation. To have our hard work acknowledged at the highest level is incredibly rewarding and we look forward to flying the flag for British success and the circular economy as we continue to develop our partnerships on the world stage.鈥
Cornwall skincare brand Made for Life Organics, which was established in 2003, was presented with an award for sustainable development. Amanda Winwood, founder of the Truro-based business, said it was 鈥渋ncredible鈥 to win the accolade.
鈥淲e are absolutely delighted to receive the highly prestigious King鈥檚 Award for Sustainable Development,鈥 she said. 鈥淭he Made for Life team have always been very proud of what we have achieved - both in terms of looking after the planet and people鈥檚 wellbeing. This award proves that the Kings Awards are inclusive and that you don鈥檛 have to be huge in number to be great and change lives for the better.鈥
Meanwhile, Bristol-based video tech firm One Big Circle was recognised for excellence in innovation. Based next to Temple Meads station, the company was founded in 2017 by Emily Kent, Barnaby Kent, Ian Packer and Sam Low.
Now a team of more than 50, the firm鈥檚 intelligent video system is used across the 海角视频 railway by Network Rail, Transport for Wales and multiple operators, to carry out inspections in a bid to improve worker safety and help trains run more smoothly.
Ms Kent said: 鈥淚t is a momentous achievement to be awarded the accolade of King鈥檚 Award for Enterprise and is a fantastic reflection on our team who have worked so hard on delivering innovation with and for the 海角视频 Rail Industry.
鈥淔rom our first idea and initial deployment, to now being trusted partners of the industry with thousands of people using the technology every day, it really is a real demonstration of how SMEs can thrive in the 海角视频.鈥
Family-run Cornwall-based manufacturer and distributor of agricultural machinery Teagle was presented with an award for international trade. The company, founded in 1943, employs nearly 150 people, most of whom are based near the company鈥檚 plant near Truro.
The firm was recognised for its outstanding growth in overseas markets including in France, Ireland, the US and Germany. Access to new markets was also acknowledged, with products recently shipped to India, Thailand, Vietnam, Chile and China. Export sales now represent over 50% of total business revenue.
Tom Teagle, the company鈥檚 managing director, said: 鈥淭he King鈥檚 Award for International Trade is one of the highest accolades any business can receive, and the success we鈥檝e achieved illustrates the vital role small businesses like Teagle can contribute to the reputation of 海角视频 manufacturing. This award marks a milestone in the history of the company and is welcome at a time that farmers globally are facing significant challenges."
