The boss of a successful Leicestershire family business has been recognised by the global leaders in the sector.
Shahid Sheikh OBE, managing director of Clifton Packaging, has been honoured with a lifetime achievement award by global industry body the World Packaging Organisation (WPO).
Presented at the Worldstar Awards, in the Czech Republic, it recognises the big contribution he has made in packaging over the years.
Clifton employs more than 100 at its Meridian Business Park base, on the outskirts of Leicester.
It makes flexible packages, pouches and films for products mainly in the food sector ranging from rice to sweets, drinks and crisps.
It also provides contract packaging services and supplies packaging machinery.
Most recent accounts show turnover grew 8 per cent to £20.7 million in 2017, and according to the business, that now stands at more than £24 million.
It made a pre-tax profit of £2.6 million in 2017.
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It is the latest in a succession of top accolades for the Mr Sheikh, who was named overall winner of last year’s Institute of Directors (IoD) East Midlands director of the year awards.
Three years ago Clifton Packaging was named Company of the Year at the Leicester Mercury Business Awards.
Mr Sheikh, who travelled out to Prague with his family to receive the award, said: “When I was notified that I’d been awarded this prestigious honour I was absolutely speechless which, as anyone who knows me will know is far from a common occurrence.
“I couldn’t believe it and was nearly brought to tears.
“It reminded me very much of being informed about my OBE a few years ago which, of course, was another hugely significant point in my life.”
The award is only given to candidates with more than two decades of experience in packaging, including design, technology, engineering, marketing and science.
An independent, world-wide group of judges reviews nominations and decides who deserves recognition.
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Recipients are honoured in perpetuity on a dedicated page on the WPO website.
It comes on the back of Mr Sheikh being re-appointed for a second term as a Midlands Export Champion and confirmed as chairman for the Midlands branch of the British Asian Trust which was founded and is led by Prince Charles.
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Mr Sheikh said: “I dedicate this award to my family for their support, to my late parents and my mentor and inspiration – my elder brother, the late Khalid Sheikh.
“I really do believe that this award just goes to show that you can achieve anything you put your mind to irrespective of the situation you find yourself born into or working through in your life.
“I also believe that this global industry recognition was given to me and to Clifton because of the superb and innovative work we do in the area of packaging and the supply chain, which is of itself multi-award winning.
“Clifton also lead the way in terms of recyclable ready packaging and soon we’ll be opening the 海角视频’s very first packaging centre of excellence which will provide a space in which we can share our experience and expertise with others as well as host events which speak directly into the plastics debate.
“A lot of sacrifices have been made during the course of our journey and we have learned to adapt to the ever changing requirements of our industry.
“By constantly investing and innovating we have been able to keep up with changing trends and to lead in our respective field.
“Clifton will continue to lead thanks to the supremely talented team we have here – a team I am honoured to head up.”