Pictured above: (l-r) Presenter Rory Bremner, Rob Hall of Trent Concrete, Philip Stead of Steads Haulage, Patrick O'Connell from award sponsor Bandvulc Group, and presenter Di Stewart (Photo by Picture Partnership)

IT was success at the double when two Nottinghamshire companies scooped a top award in the 'Oscars' of the motor transport world.

Steads Haulage of Arnold, who were finalists for Haulier of the Year in the Motor Transport newspaper awards last year, teamed up with Trent Concrete of Colwick to win the partnership prize in this year's awards.

And it was work in connection with the 2012 London Olympics that brought them each a prize trophy which to them was as good as winning gold.

Trent Concrete, formed in 1917 and employing 140 people, won a contract last year to supply £6m of cladding for two big accommodation blocks in the athletes' village at Stratford, East London, part of the largest construction project in Europe.

Steads, who started in 1926 and collect and deliver in the UK and Europe, have been providing haulage services to Trent for more than 40 years and as a trusted client were chosen to make 600 deliveries of major pre-cast quality concrete pieces, some weighing up to 30 tonnes, this year.

The contract meant that the delivery had to be done on a just-in-time basis to a tight schedule with Steads drivers having to pass through stringent security measures and co-ordinate with constriction crews to unload everything in perfect condition.

Steads staff are treated as part of Trent, both at Colwick - where they have special clearance for access outside operating hours and at the Olympic site - building an excellent working relationship.

Steads were involved nine months before a single piece was manufactured, with the £300,000 delivery contract equal to 15 per cent of their gross revenue for this year.

Philip Stead, director of Steads, said: "A lot of planning and effort has gone into these prestigious contracts, with their strict requirements."

"This has been a great test of the ability, patience and understanding of our drivers who have succeeded in delivering on time week in and week out.

"The directors and the employees are delighted to have won this special recognition."

All has gone so well with what is the highest profile contract won by either company in their history that they have since won other tenders for smaller but important rail infrastructure projects as part of the Olympic scheme.

Rob Hall, works manager of Trent Concrete, said it was great that his company had won an award in a different industry to its own, particularly as the other four finalists were well-known major names.

"It was great for two small independent firms from Nottinghamshire who work closely together to win," he said.

Trent won safety contractor of the month for January at the Olympic site, with Steads playing a crucial role. Now the two companies hope this latest success will bring more high profile work.

Judges in the Motor Transport Awards, which were handed out at a glittering ceremony in London's Grosvenor House Hotel, said that a high level of trust and working together to meet deadlines went "beyond normal contractual relationship."