Pictured above: (l-r) David Pritchard of Rieke, Mark Box- Managing Director of Rieke, Adam Bird- Managing Director of Esendex, BBC's Anne Davis, Julian Hucker- Managing Director of Esendex, Andrew Woodward from Hilltop Partners, Micheal Seals MBE- emda Board Member, Kavita Oberoi, Christine Brown- Company Director of Carter Brown, Christine Carter- Company Director of Carter Brown, emda's Chairman- Bryan Jackson and Mike Carr- emda's Executive Director of Business Services  

Friday 12th March 2010 East Midlands Development Agency (emda) hosted the HighGrowth East Midlands Awards to celebrate the achievements of companies participating in its flagship business support programme, HighGrowth East Midlands.

200 business representatives from across the East Midlands gathered at the black-tie event at Nottingham's Belfry Hotel to congratulate and recognise the successes of fellow members. Keynote speakers Bryan Jackson, emda's Chairman and Derbyshire based entrepreneur and star of Secret Millionaire, Kavita Oberoi, joined the BBC's Anne Davis, who hosted the awards, to honour the programme's top achievers.

Rieke Packaging Systems based in Leicester, emerged as the top winner, scooping the prestigious HighGrowth East Midlands Business of the Year Award, which is reserved for a top performing company seen as an exemplar in its market. Rieke Packaging specialises in the design, development and manufacture of packaging. 2009 was the most successful year in the company's history, and the High Growth programme helped to develop a team that will sustain the growth as it moves forward. Rieke also the won the Growth Readiness Award at last year's ceremony.

Mark Box, Managing Director of Rieke, said: "This award is a great achievement for Rieke and I'd like to pay tribute to the hard working team of staff that has made this possible. Rieke sees its long-term future as a technology-led medical devices business, and the coaching that the company has received through HighGrowth East Midlands has provided an excellent springboard to help us achieve our target of being a £30 million business by 2012."

Esendex Limited based in Nottingham picked up the High Growth Award. This award is given to a company demonstrating a significant track record of high growth and delivering an innovative and compelling business strategy. Esendex specialises in telecommunications, and is the UK's leading provider of business SMS services. Since taking part in the High Growth programme, the company has refocused its management team to aid the development of a new strategy for its global markets.

Adam Bird, Co-Founder and CTO of Esendex, said: "This is fantastic recognition for our business and the team at Esendex. It endorses all our hard work so far which has enabled the business to grow, and shows that we are on track to achieve our vision of being the world's best business messaging service." 

Other finalists for the High Growth Award included Heat Transfer Systems based in High Peak, Derbyshire and Quadralene based in Derby..

Carter Brown Associates won the Growth Readiness Award, given to a company showing outstanding growth potential and a clear vision. The Mansfield based company specialises in health and social care. It provides expert witnesses in child protection and private family law proceedings. Since taking part in the Growth Readiness programme, Carter Brown has developed a new management structure, including the appointment of a new Finance Director, and has started recruiting consultants to offer new services to local authorities.

Christine Carter, Company Director of Carter Brown said: "We are ecstatic to receive the Growth Readiness Award. This recognition is a fitting tribute to our hard working, loyal and committed team of staff."

Finalists for the Growth Readiness Award included Betterlanguages.com based in Bingham, Nottingham and DDC Outsourcing Solutions based in Worksop, Nottinghamshire.

The Growth Enabler Professional Excellence Award was presented to coach Andrew Woodward from Hilltop Partners in High Peak, Derbyshire. The award is reserved for a business coach who has participated in the Growth Enabler professional development programme, which is designed to enhance the quality of business coaching available across the East Midlands.

On receiving his award Andrew, said: "I am delighted to win this award in front of such a strong field of finalists. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the businesses that I have coached through HighGrowth East Midlands, without them winning this award would not have been possible".

Speaking at the awards dinner, Bryan Jackson, emda's Chairman, said: "The standard of winners that we have seen this evening is a glowing endorsement of the business talent we have in the region as well as being a really positive indicator for our region's future".

"The HighGrowth East Midlands programme represents our commitment to help the region's high growth businesses and we believe that our continued investment in support for high growth businesses is vital. That is why emda and the European Regional Development Fund are together committing a further £3 million to a new three year programme, called Coaching for High Growth, which will be in place in April to help a new generation of potential high growth businesses."  

Launched in January 2008, more than 160 companies from across the East Midlands have participated in HighGrowth East Midlands. Since its launch, HighGrowth East Midlands has created or safeguarded nearly 1,000 jobs across 160 participating businesses and is forecast to collectively increase the Gross Value Added (GVA) of those businesses by £60 million.

Comprising two programmes, Growth Readiness and High Growth, it is designed to increase profits, enhance competitiveness and create the conditions for long-term success. For many participants, it is providing the extra bit of help that businesses need to turn the challenges of the current economic climate into opportunities for growth.

HighGrowth East Midlands is funded by emda and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).