Derbyshire-based metal and waste recycling company, Ward, has been crowned Family Business of the Year 2018, as well as the Fastest Growing Family Business.
Established in 1940, Ward is a fourth-generation family business specialising in metal recycling and waste management. Ward was announced winner of the Midlands Family Business Awards’ headline award at a prestigious black-tie ceremony at Leicester’s Athena.
Operating from five UK sites, Swadlincote-headquartered Ward is the largest independent metal and waste recycling company in the East Midlands and employs over 400 people. It offers complete metal and waste management solutions to ensure minimal waste to landfill and, this year, opened a dedicated deep-sea export dock facility as part of its ongoing growth strategy.
Highly Commended by the judges in the headline Family Business of the Year category are East Midlands firms Retford-based elastomer solutions provider, J-Flex, and Derbyshire-based power generation specialists, WB Power Services.
Derbyshire is home to a record breaking four Award winners this year. Joining Ward on the region’s roster of winners are HSG UK that won the Innovation category, Owen Taylor & Sons that won Manufacturing Excellence, and Bright Side Vets which was crowned Best Small Family Business 2018 – the first time a veterinary practice has picked up an award in the Midlands Family Business Awards’ nine years.
In recognition of its fundraising for Primrose Hospice in Bromsgrove and support of staff wellbeing, Birmingham car parts supplier, David Manners, scooped the Corporate Social Responsibility and Employer of the Year titles.
Other winners on the night were Rutland Cycling and Premier Care, whilst Matthew Ballard of Nottinghamshire removal company, Ballards Removals, was named the Director of the Year.
All forty-eight finalists were automatically entered into the People’s Choice Award sponsored by Streets Chartered Accountants – which saw them face the public vote. The overall winner was Oldrids & Downtown.
This year’s ceremony was attended by over 300 guests from the awards’ finalists, independent judges and sponsors, including headline sponsor and former Family Business of the Year titleholder OrderWise.
Individual category sponsors of this year’s Awards are Buckles Solicitors, Goldfish Luxury Travel, John Pye Auctions, Morningside Pharmaceuticals, PwC, Shakespeare Martineau, Streets Chartered Accountants, The Wilson Organisation and V Formation. The Drinks Reception was sponsored by NIG Insurance.
The full line-up of Winners and Highly Commended in the 2018 Awards, are:
Family Business of the Year – sponsored by OrderWise
Winner – Ward
Highly Commended – J-Flex
Highly Commended – WB Power Services
Best Small Family Business – sponsored by John Pye Auctions
Winner – Bright Side Vets
Highly Commended – H20 Hygiene
Highly Commended – Nick Young Tractor Parts
Corporate Social Responsibility – sponsored by V Formation
Winner – David Manners
Highly Commended – Bumble Hole Eggs
Highly Commended – Owen Taylor & Sons
Director of the Year – sponsored by Goldfish Luxury Travel
Winner – Matthew Ballard, Ballards Removals
Highly Commended – Richard Broadhead, Oldrids & Downtown
Highly Commended – Emma Brealey, Petwood Hotel
Employer of the Year – sponsored by Buckles Solicitors
Winner – David Manners
Highly Commended – Morley Hayes Leisure
Highly Commended – Swiftool Precision Engineering
Fastest Growing Family Business – sponsored by PwC
Winner – Ward
Highly Commended – Travelworld Motorhomes
Highly Commended – Nick Young Tractor Parts
Innovation – sponsored by Morningside Pharmaceuticals
Winner – HSG UK
Highly Commended – Southall Associates
Highly Commended – Streets Heaver Healthcare
Manufacturing Excellence – sponsored by The Wilson Organisation
Winner – Owen Taylor & Sons
Highly Commended – A1 Flue Systems
Highly Commended – James T Blakeman & Co
Retail Excellence
Winner – Rutland Cycling
Highly Commended – GemPort Jewellery
Highly Commended – The Internet Gardener
Service Excellence – sponsored by Shakespeare Martineau LLP
Winner – Premier Care
Highly Commended – Bright Side Vets
Highly Commended – Fairlawns Hotel
People’s Choice – sponsored by Streets Chartered Accountants
Winner – Oldrids & Downtown
Highly Commended Bright Side Vets
Highly Commended – Fairlawns Hotel
