THE Queen has honoured a Grimsby-area company for the second time – as it celebrates doubling its workforce.
Oil industry specialist Shand Engineering has again received the ultimate accolade for international trade, four years after the first.
It has dramatically increased production and opened a business in America since the initial visit to Buckingham Palace.
Now another London date will have to be pencilled in, as a new UK base in North East Lincolnshire is sought, and a second international plant in Brazil established.
More than 70 people are employed in the manufacture, design and sale of hose and pipe coupling systems for oil and gas transportation, across three sites on Stallingborough Industrial Estate.
Managing director Brian Purchon wants to bring them together under one roof which will match the prestige of the awards cabinet.
Sworn to secrecy as the award was revealed on the Queen's 87th birthday yesterday, he said: "To win it again is a significant achievement, and a great reward for everyone here.
"When we won the first one it was really emphasised to us how it will aid exports. We said 'OK, but how?'. It really does. When you travel around the world and show the picture of us shaking hands with the Queen people realise you must be part of something special, that you must be good. It gives you credibility."
The awards are based on three successive years' accounts, with Shand entering figures for 2010, 2011 and 2012 – the Diamond Jubilee year.
It provided a perfect opportunity to benchmark where Kiln Lane operation was at, compared to the 2009 success, when it won alongside Grimsby grocery exporter Ramsden International.
"Whenever I talk to people I just say we are a small company," said Mr Purchon. "Now as far as the Government is concerned we are a medium-sized enterprise, with sales of more than £10 million. To me we are still a small firm, with a real family feel, but I always qualify it!"
When Her Majesty bestowed the first award, annual sales as of June 2008 were a shade over £6 million, with 39 employees. By June 2012, the final figures on which this award is based, sales were at £12.4 million, with a team of 66.
"We anticipate the current year, which finishes in June, ending with sales of £17 million and 71 employees in Stallingborough."
Another Queen's Award winner is RES, the company that first identified the Lincolnshire coast as the preferable part of Crown Estate seabed to site offshore wind turbines on. With a growing presence in Grimsby, original work laid the foundations for an industry that has created more than 200 jobs in the town alone, with the wider Humber hoping to benefit further. Chris Holden, chairman of Grimsby Renewables Partnership, is one of a team of 400, working as offshore operations manager from offices inside Grimsby Fish Market.
What has been executed in the UK is now being repeated abroad, with overseas sales increasing by 352 per cent over the past six years for the Hertfordshire-headquartered organisation.
Editor's Comment
RECOGNITION of a good job, well done is always welcome.
But such an accolade from the highest person in the land is praise indeed.
And now one local firm has won that honour – not once, but twice!
Oil industry specialist Shand Engineering should be extremely proud of the work it has done and continues to do.
In North East Lincolnshire, despite the economic uncertainty that continues, there is much going on, which the area should be extremely proud of.
Shand is a prime example of the efforts that are being put in here and the way in which many, many businesses are successful as they strive to weather the storm and provide security and employment for their staff and associated industries.
It is all too easy to use the continuing tough times as an excuse to talk our economy down – both locally and nationally.
But stop and look around, we have a strong food sector here, with thousands of jobs still secure, a growing renewables business and the continued success of the Humber bank companies.
While there is no doubt times are hard, there are many that are making Grimsby and its area great!
Do you believe this area is fairing well and do you have a success story?
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