A BROMYARD company scooped one of the top prizes at Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce Business Awards 2015.

Apreco Limited, based in Tenbury Road, was named Manufacturer of the Year across the two counties at a glittering event attended by more than 400 guests at the Treetops within West Midland Safari and Leisure Park.

The niche market leader in the design, manufacture and worldwide distribution of pressure relief vents, air pressure stabilisers and environmental monitoring was hailed by the judges for its work.

They said the firm’s application demonstrated critical success factors in its manufacturing and design processes, to meet the demands of global customers, against a backdrop of declining sales in the UK.

Managing director Mike Hodges said: “Apreco are proud to have been recognised once again at the chamber awards.

“Based in Herefordshire we are proud to prove that ‘you can’, through clever design and engineering practices, maintain a supply chain that is largely based within a 30 miles of our factory.

“We recognise that the continued future success of the company depends on the price, delivery and quality of our products and service levels. Our range of air pressure control devices are used in operating theatres and data centres globally.”

He added: “I would like to say a special thankyou to all of the Apreco team that continue to work so hard and have enabled us to win this award.”

The company, founded in 1997, counts HSBC, the Royal Air Force, Red Bull racing and Rolls Royce among its clients.

The annual awards are in their 14th year and keynote speaker was Sajid Javid, Conservative MP for Bromsgrove and Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and President of the Board of Trade.

Although Herefordshire had a host of businesses shortlisted for awards, Apreco registered the only success.

However, two companies operating on the Herefordshire- Worcestershire border picked up notable triumphs.

Orchard Valley Foods, based in Tenbury Wells, was crowned Business of the Year 2015, while Cleobury Mortimerbased Kudos Blends Ltd was Exporter of the Year.

Orchard Valley develop, manufacture, distribute and also undertake sales and marketing in confectionery, cake and powder food ingredients.

It won the category for High Growth Business of the Year and then beat all the other winners on the night to the Business of the Year Award.

Kudos Blends was said to have an holistic view of the whole business model and had built a very credible and robust business plan of the ‘go to‘ market for this industry.

Managing Director Dinnie Jordan said: “It is a massive honour. I am extremely proud of my team at Kudos for all their hard work in making our international activities so worthwhile.

“Huge thanks must also go to the chamber and UKTI for their help with our exporting needs. Without their support we wouldn’t have had the confidence to approach new markets and subsequently would not be in the position we are in today.”

Mr Javid told guests: “ would like to congratulate the award winners who have worked so hard to grow their businesses and create jobs across Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

“International trade is a vital part of our longterm economic plan and it was great to meet local businesses that are branching out into lucrative new markets.

“UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) advisers are working with over 50 mediumsized businesses in this region alone and there is a raft of support out there for businesses that want to start their export journey.”

Mike Ashton, chief executive of the chamber, said: “The quality of the entries this year was outstanding and it was a pleasure to celebrate the success of these spectacular local businesses at our annual awards evening.”

Our county finalists...

  • Exporter of the Year (sponsor,Malvern Instruments): Apreco Limited
  • Growth Business of the Year (sponsor,Growth Accelerator): Ambrey Risk Limited
  • Excellence in Innovation (sponsor,Central Technology Belt): IA Technology
  • Most Promising New Business (sponsor, Worcestershire LEP): Rural Concierge, Hereford
  • Commitment to People Development (sponsor, Sanctuary Group): Caplor Energy
  • Sustainability Award (sponsor, Resource Efficient Worcestershire): Cargill Meats Europe; Kingspan Insulation; Wye Valley Brewery
  • Commitment to Supporting Health and Wellbeing in the Workplace (sponsor, University of Worcester): Westons Cider
  • Manufacturer of the Year (sponsor, University of Wolverhampton): Apreco Limited, Kingspan Insulation