An entrepreneur who is helping to protect people through the power of additives has been recognised in the Queen's New Year's Honours List.
Paul Morris, founder of Addmaster in Stafford, has been awarded an MBE for his firm's services to exporting and championing the 海角视频's manufacturing capabilities globally.
The company's performance-enhancing additives are being used to give products and touch points greater hygienic protection against the spread of bacteria and viruses.
Addmaster's client base includes household names such as Asda, Dulux, Dyson, M&S and hundreds of hospitals and healthcare facilities across 55 countries.
As a result of the covid-19 pandemic, the firm has seen sales climb by 60 per cent as customers become more conscious about improved hygiene.
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It has seen demand soar for Its ‘Biomaster' technology which has been adopted for use by toy makers, paper producers, on shopping trolleys and within the aviation sector.
Mr Morris set up the company 21 years ago after borrowing £5,000 off his grandmother.
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He said: "When I first received the email from the Cabinet Office to tell me about the MBE I thought it was spam and only realised it was real when an online search revealed that covid restrictions meant notifications were being sent to winners virtually.
"I am tremendously proud and honoured to win this award but for me it is a real testament to the hard work and innovation of the team at Addmaster.
"What we've achieved from a standing start and being new boys in a complex sector has been phenomenal and we'll use the MBE, alongside our third Queen's Award, to grow our market share across the world."
Susan Tipton has also been awarded an MBE for services to apprenticeships and charity in the West Midlands.
She set up Birmingham-based Protocol Consultancy Services in 1996 as a small apprenticeship training provider and over the last 25 years has supported more than 5,000 learners.
Ms Tipton has engaged with over 2,500 employers and helped 2,000 young people into apprenticeships or employment, including employing 40 apprentices in her own business, some of whom are now directors or senior managers.
Among its roster of clients is holiday giant Thomas Cook which the firm helped to set up its first ever apprenticeship programme.
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Through the agency, she has also supported numerous national and local charities including the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation and Alzheimer's Friends.
She is also a director of the Birmingham & Solihull Training Provider Network and is actively involved in the Ladder for Greater Birmingham apprenticeship campaign.
Launched in partnership with BusinessLive publisher Reach plc in 2018, the campaign is creating hundreds of new apprenticeship opportunities across the city region and recently hosted its second annual apprenticeship awards.
Ms Tipton said: "I am delighted to receive such an esteemed honour, particularly as I am celebrating 25 years at Protocol in 2021.
"I would like to acknowledge and express my thanks to my excellent, professional and skilled team who share my values, goals, vision and aspirations.
"This award is testimony to the significance of working with apprentices and traineeships in our sector and the West Midlands in particular.
"It is so important, helping them get on the career ladder and then see them develop into successful employees with responsible positions gives great satisfaction.
"Now more than ever in these challenging times, we need to support each other and help in making the lives and career prospects of local young people better."