The chief executive of specialist materials manufacturer M&I Materials has said triumphing at the MEN Business of the Year Awards in 2019 was "an honour" and helped kick start a rise in sales.
The Trafford Park-based company, which exports to more than 60 countries around the globe, secured a gong in the £25m-£50m turnover category at the last awards ceremony before the Covid-19 pandemic.
Giles Salt spoke to BusinessLive as the awards were relaunched, with four categories reopening for entries until October 15.
READ MORE: New date, new opportunity to be a winner at the MEN Business Awards
The four reopened categories are:
- Head office outside Greater Manchester turnover £100m+ sponsored by CMS
- Turnover £100m+ sponsored by PwC
- Turnover £50m - £100m sponsored by Robert Walters
- Turnover £25m - £50m sponsored by Brewin Dolphin
To submit a nomination, visit
Giles Salt said his company is now eyeing further growth in sales in the next few years.
The business , which has a network of international offices and production facilities in the Americas, Africa, Middle East, Europe and Asia Pacific, specialises in the commercialisation of materials for demanding applications.
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Now with a revenue of £57m, for the 12 months to the end of March 2021, the firm works across a range of sectors, from power and aerospace to nuclear medicine and high-performance motorsports, with clients including Siemens, ABB, Boeing, NASA and F1.
Its brands include Apiezon, a global market leader in high vacuum greases, sealants and lubricants, Metrosil, a leader in surge protection solutions used to safeguard electrical power networks worldwide, Midel, a fire-safe, biodegradable, ester-based dielectric transformer fluid used by utilities and transformer manufacturers, and Wolfmet, which is recognised as one of the world’s leading aerospace tungsten providers.
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Mr Salt said: "It was fantastic to win and an honour. Of all the awards to win in the North West it was the one to win.
"This is the most prestigious one and we were all really proud.
"We had never entered the awards process before so we did not know what to expect but it turned out to be a really amazing experience.
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"We won it in 2019 but by March 2020 we were in a completely different position.
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"The company was slightly ahead of the curve in terms of adapting to the pandemic and we stopped international travel and let people work from home before the first lockdown started.
"We are exposed to the aerospace industry which did not do so well but the rest of the business managed to perform well.
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"The company's sales actually increased 13% in the year to the end of March 2021 compared to the prior year.
"Things are a little more uncertain at the moment, which is a bit strange.
"The cost of raw materials has risen and the availability of people is not as it was.
"But we are very positive about the future and expect the next year to be solid and then things should accelerate after that."
Introducing our sponsors
This year, the MEN Business Awards are lucky enough to have five headline sponsors. The businesses sponsoring the awards are:
Brewin Dolphin was founded on the belief that the successful management of wealth takes an understanding of money but is rooted in an even deeper understanding of people. So before we invest your money, we’ll first invest in our relationship with you. We have the technical skills to make the most of opportunities to protect and grow your wealth. But more than that, our ability to build strong relationships means we can create the bespoke financial plans and investment portfolios that will meet your unique ambitions and deliver peace of mind that your interests are in the right hands.
CMS is the world’s fifth largest law firm, with nearly 5,000 lawyers worldwide advising clients from all sectors on a wide range of legal issues including M&A and corporate law, disputes, real estate and construction, energy and infrastructure and IP and ITC. The firm has had a significant presence in Manchester for the last six years.
LDC is the private equity arm of Lloyds Banking Group. With a portfolio of over 90 companies across the 海角视频, it provides a combination of investment, support and expertise to help businesses achieve their ambitious growth plans.
PwC is one of the largest professional services networks in the world with 284,000 people in 155 countries and is committed to delivering quality in assurance, advisory and tax services
With offices in more than 30 countries, Robert Walters is one of the world’s leading global specialist recruitment consultancies. Distinguished by its long-standing expertise, local market intelligence and specialist teams, it supports North West employers, from high-growth start-ups, to blue-chip enterprises, looking to drive their business forward with the best market talent across disciplines including accounting and finance, technology, banking and financial services, business support, manufacturing and engineering, and supply chain and logistics.
The Turnover £25m-£50m Award for this year's event is sponsored by wealth management firm Brewin Dolphin.
Bradley Russell, Divisional Director of the headline sponsor, said: "Brewin Dolphin’s Manchester office is delighted to, once again, sponsor the Manchester Evening News Business Awards.
"We have met a huge number of fantastic businesses in previous years and look forward to meeting many more.
"If there has ever been a time to celebrate success, this is it! Visiting these businesses and being a part of this process reminds us just how vibrant the region is and how lucky we are to be a part of it. We wish all the entrants the very best of luck!"