A COMPANY which is a world leader in its field, was recognised this week for not forgetting its Herefordshire roots.

Kingsland’s Border Oak was named winner of the 2015 Diamond County Award for large businesses for an outstanding contribution to its community.

It received the prize at a ceremony at Hereford Town Hall when the Lord Lieutenant of Herefordshire, Lady Darnley, and the High Sheriff, Edward Harley, presented the trophies.

The awards were the brainchild of the late Olwyn Barnett, who set up the scheme as part of the Queen’s jubilee celebrations in 2012.

Border Oak, an internationally known family firm which designs and constructs heritage-style buildings, has a workforce of 120 and is the world’s largest user of green oak timber.

But it has always remained loyal to its local community and has a proud record of support which began with giving and constructing buildings for its local church and school.

It then decided to allow employees time off for charitable or voluntary work and one worker attached to Kingland fire service recently won a bravery award.

The company is now supporting a Young Offenders programme, which teaches craft skills using the company’s oak offcuts.

Future plans include extending community work by creating a Charitable Trust.

Runner-up in the category was Hoople, a 300-employee independent private company providing business office services to Herefordshire Council and the NHS.

The Diamond award for small firms went to the Supported Housing for Young People Project in Herefordshire (SHYPP) which was set up by its housing association parent.

Each year SHYPP helps around 160 young people aged 16-25 who would otherwise be homeless and sleeping rough on the streets of Hereford, Ross and Leominster.

There are three ‘foyers’ in the county which provide overnight accommodation but SHYPP has also developed mentoring to tackle underlying problems and get young people back into education, training or a job.

In addition, it has created a film unit which puts over important messages and also allows young people to experience team work and raise their self-esteem.

Runner-up in the category was Hereford firm HFT, a family-owned supplier of Forklift trucks to Herefordshire businesses.

Councillor John Stone, former chairman of Herefordshire Council, said: “I am pleased that this year’s awards have once again been a great success and recognise the outstanding contribution our businesses and apprentices make in our local communities. “I would like to thank and congratulate all of this year’s nominees, finalists and winners for everything they do for residents and communities across Herefordshire.”

  • The winners of the main Diamond awards received special trophies designed and manufactured by Douglas Hill, Chris Wilson and Gabriel Chaille who are students at Herefordshire College of Arts.

NO DOUBTING THOMAS IS A WINNER

THE Diamond Awards night also recognises the county’s outstanding apprentices and this year’s top prize went to Thomas Jones, of Cargill Meat Europe in Hereford.
The electrical engineer apprentice is supported by Herefordshire Group Training and was described as a great ambassador, having assisted at events and open evenings as well as helping new apprentices at work. He has also undertaken activities in the community including projects with the local school at Burghill as part of his work at Cargills.
His supervisor and manager Nigel Matthews said: “Tom is inspirational to the company; honest hardworking gives everything, always approachable, and works to high standards. He is the engineer for the future so Cargill’s engineering future is in safe hands.”
The other three candidates on the shortlist for the award were Jasmine Baldwin (allpay Limited), Connor Diggens (Thomas Panels and Profiles) and William Skinner (CargillsMeats)
The apprentices were judged by a panel chaired by Paul Deneen and comprised former High Sheriff Bob Tabor; Lee Snead, head of client services at allpay; and Niki Baker, HR manager at South Hereford Garages Ltd.
Herefordshire Business Board chairman Neil Kerr and Liz Connors, chairman of Cares Council for Cargill, judged the business awards.