BULMERS has recognised the contributions of local and national contractors by hosting its first Contractor Awards – and all three prizes went to long-serving Hereford-based companies.

Folbigg Fabrications received the gold award, KGD Industrial Services received the silver award and DL Davies received the bronze award from Dr Alastair King, head of manufacturing at Bulmers.

Folbigg Fabrications, based at the Rotherwas Industrial Estate, are fabrication and mechanical contractors who have worked with Bulmers for 22 years.

KGD Industrial Services, also fabrication and mechanical contractors based at Rotherwas, has worked with Bulmers for 15 years.

General Building and site maintenance business DL Davies has also been a contractor to Bulmers for 15 years.

“Contractors provide a wide range of essential skills for Bulmers and these awards allow us to recognise how important they are to our business, and most importantly to celebrate the high standards that we see on a regular basis,” said Dr King. “Health and safety is the number one priority at Bulmers and we are impressed by the commitment that all of our contractors have made in responding to the stringent standards we set ourselves and the companies we work with."

Steve Hunt, director of Folbigg Fabrications said: “We were delighted to receive this award, it is great to see big companies like S&N recognising the efforts of small local contractors. “S&N’s monitoring of contractors helps us to maintain a very high standard of safety both on the Bulmers site and with our other customers, and they regularly keep us up to date with new health and safety improvements.”

Dr King also took the opportunity to thank key suppliers who have helped Bulmers meet the massive growth in demand for cider during the last two years.