Pictured above: Oakland International winners of the Commitment to the Community category (L to R) Annabel Prow (The Wilson Organisation), Hayley Smith and Dean Attwell of Oakland International, James Mills (Aviva - category sponsor)

 

Redditch-based Oakland International and Birmingham's Perfection Foods have scooped top honours in the inaugural Midlands Family Business Awards, the region's first-ever awards initiative to spotlight the most talented family businesses and their leaders.

Oakland International has won the Commitment to the Community category, sponsored by Aviva, beating off stiff competition from East Midlands businesses Hodgkinson Builders and Original Touch.

Perfection Foods, based in Wednesbury, won the Development of International Markets category, sponsored by Barclays, with West Midlands businesses Comtec Translations of Warwickshire and Grayson Thermal Systems, Birmingham, confirmed as category runners-up.

The West Midlands also fared well in two further categories - Grayson Thermal Systems was also runner-up in the headline Family Business of the Year Award, whilst PWC was runner-up in the Best Advisor to Family Businesses category, sponsored by Axa.

Penny Hydraulics of Chesterfield, Derbyshire, was crowned the Midlands Family Business of the Year. Scotts of Thrapston, Northamptonshire, was voted runner-up in the headline Award, and Whittaker Office Solutions, Loughborough, and Anand International of Leicester also shortlisted for the Award.

All winners and runners-up across the Awards' ten categories were unveiled at a glittering ceremony last night (Thursday 11th November 2010) at the family-owned Thrumpton Hall near Nottingham, whittled down from the shortlisted five businesses per category by the judging panels. 

Penny Hydraulics' Robin and Tim Penny were presented with the Award by Alistair Wesson of RSM Tenon, headline sponsor of the Midlands Family Business Awards, and Charlotte Prow, MD of The Wilson Organisation, which has underwritten the Awards. Both judged the category alongside Tim Storer, managing director of Pukka Pies and John O'Reilly of emda.

Pictured above: Perfection Foods, winners of the Development of International Markets category (L to R) Annabel Prow (The Wilson Organisation), Sukhdev Singh Bath and Gurdeep Singh Bath (Perfection Foods), Karen Hickling (Barclays - category sponsor)

The judging schedule throughout September involved informal interviews with all shortlisted family businesses.

The winners are: -

Family Business of the Year:

Winner = Penny Hydraulics (Chesterfield)

Judges: Alistair Wesson, RSM Tenon (sponsor), Charlotte Prow, The Wilson Organisation, Tim Storer, Pukka Pies, John O'Reilly, emda.

Commitment to the Community:

Winner = Oakland International Limited (Redditch)

Judges:Alan Drury of Aviva (sponsor), Judy Naake founder of St Tropez, Darrell West of The Venture Foundation, Dhiren Katwa, senior news editor of national newspaper Asian Voice, Hilary Campton, Awards' Project Manager and Director, V Formation Limited

Leading Adviser to Family Businesses:

Winner = Cooper Parry

Judges: Andy Moore, Axa (sponsor), Ron Lynch, Institute of Directors, Sam Metcalf, Assistant Editor, Midlands Business Insider (Awards' media partner), Hilary Campton, Awards' Project manager and Director, V Formation Limited

Development of International Markets:

Winner = Perfection Foods (Wednesbury)

Category sponsor - Barclays

Judges: John Maclean, John Smedley, Maggie Neale, UKTI, John Steele, The Wilson Organisation

Personal Excellence:

Winner = Samantha Reynolds, Woodleigh Christian Care Home (Mansfield)

Judges: Trevor Bowmer, Mitre Group (sponsor), Fergal Dowling, Irwin Mitchell, Mark Samworth, Samworth Brothers, Annabel Prow, The Wilson Organisation

Fastest Growing Family Business:

Winner = Full Support Healthcare (Northamptonshire)

Judges: John Griffiths and Richard Comer, Connect (sponsor), Lorna Collins, Bristol University, Andrew Springhall, Blusource, John Steele, The Wilson Organisation

Best Newly-established Family Business:

Winner = P&D Specialist Services (Derbyshire)

Judges: Richard Bates, Young & Pearce (sponsor), James Timpson, Timpsons, Grant Gordon, Institute for Family Business, Charlotte Prow, The Wilson Organisation

Best Development of Talent:

Winner = Hallmark Consumer Services (Melton Mowbray)

Judges: Ben Walker, Blusource (sponsor), Colin Slater MBE, Simon Hellier, The Wilson Organisation

Overcoming Adversity:

Winner = Infomedia Services Limited (Northampton)

Judges: Peter Thornton, Duchess of Rutland, Emma Manners, Simon Hellier, The Wilson Organisation, Hilary Campton, V Formation (sponsor)

Business Innovation of the year:

Winner = T Baden Hardstaff (Nottingham)

Judges: Nitin Khanna, EFG Private Bank (sponsor), Shahid Sheikh, Clifton Packaging/IOD, Carrie Rubin, Pentland Group, Annabel Prow, The Wilson Organisation.

Commenting on the Awards and the calibre of entries, judge Peter Thornton said: "All candidates were of a very high standard. The resilience and innovation displayed was typical of the values of the family business sector." 

Mark Samworth of Samworth Brothers added: "All winners and shortlisted finalists demonstrated an obvious passion for their businesses and their customers - something that clearly made a difference and demonstrates why customers are so loyal to family businesses."

Carrie Rubin, Director of Pentland Group said: "The calibre of the nominees has been very high and judging was very challenging and tough."

Project Manager of the Awards, Hilary Campton, Director of V Formation Limited, commented: "All winners, finalists and indeed every single entrant of the Awards simply proves the wealth of top quality family run and owned businesses we have operating in every corner of the Midlands. Each of the Award judges and supporters has demonstrated both their understanding and support of what lies at the heart of running a successful family business. Everyone involved is thrilled at the reception this inaugural Midlands Family Business Awards has received from the regions communities."

Wilsons' Charlotte Prow added: "One of the main aims of the Awards was to demonstrate the value that family businesses bring to the Midlands economy, and I am convinced that this has been achieved, based on the high calibre of both the businesses and individuals who have entered and those that have scooped the top honours in the Awards." 

A full list of the winners and runners-up in the Awards' ten categories is available at www.familybusinessawards.co.uk.

More than one-hundred and twenty family run or owned businesses from across the Midlands entered the Awards, which are a not-for-profit venture, with all proceeds going to charities supporting young enterprise and young people - The Children's Society, The Willow Foundation and The Venture Foundation.

The Wilson Organisation, based in Nottingham, is underwriting the awards. Wilsons provides professional independent insurance, financial, risk management and corporate finance solutions to businesses and individuals both regionally and nationally. It is a Top 100 UK independent broker and has developed innovative solutions through strong relationships with insurers and financial services providers. For more information, visit: www.wilorg.com, or Tel: 0115 942 0111.