Pictured: Directors of Tuffa UK, Robert and Jackie Shenton
(2nd and 3rd from left), receive their award in Paris in the
company of both the British and French Ambassadors and award
sponsors
Tuffa UK Ltd of Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, has won the
Franco-British Chamber of Commerce & Industry Award in
recognition of the company's outstanding success in exporting its
high quality bespoke tanks to the French market.
Set up in 2005, Tuffa UK manufactures plastic or steel storage
tanks, for a wide range of substances including diesel; fuel oil;
biodiesel; waste; water; detergent; chemicals and more.
Tuffa UK's export story began in 2009 when similarities in
legislation led the company to try their products in a number of
European countries including the Baltic states, and they soon
succeeded in winning orders in Poland, Czech Republic
and Slovakia. The company then approached UK Trade & Investment
for help in expanding their exports. Tuffa is now successful in
markets as diverse as Australia, Africa and France - where the
company recently won orders with multinational oil company Total
subsidiaries and Renault Truck Oils.
The company now employs 34 staff and has an annual turnover of
£3.6m with exports worth approx £1m per year.
Tuffa UK Ltd Director Jackie Shenton says:
"I'm extremely proud to receive this award! We didn't expect to
win and it was wonderful to be recognised in this way and bring our
award back for all the staff who have contributed to our export
success."
Jackie continues:
"We approached UK Trade & Investment because we wanted to
build on our export successes. To date we've commissioned from them
seven OMIS (Overseas Market Information Service) reports for the
French market alone. We've also had a wonderful International Trade
Advisor, Christine Taylor Colas based in the British embassy in
Paris who showed genuine interest in Tuffa, took it upon herself to
acquire detailed knowledge of our product and provided us with no
end of useful information about the French market.
"Unless a company has the in-house resources to undertake market
research, along with the relevant language skills, I'd definitely
advise them to think about approaching UK Trade & Investment -
their help is extremely beneficial."
Earlier this month, Tuffa UK team members attended a glittering
award ceremony in Paris, to pick up their award in the
SME/Entrepreneur category.
The annual competition is open to both French and UK companies
which export to either country. Sponsors include Barclays, Chez
Gerard, Mazars LLP, Invest in France Agency and UK Trade &
Investment. Tuffa won due to its success in exporting to
France.
UK Trade & Investment International Trade Adviser Cheryl
Astley says:
"Tuffa Tanks has been a fantastic company to work with and they
have worked hard to secure their new business in France. This
award is well deserved and reflects the total commitment the
company has made in turning sales opportunities into sales
orders."