Five Chamber Members Receive King’s Awards

Posted 04 July 2024|0 Comments

The West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce was delighted to hear that five (yes five!) of its members have recently received the prestigious King's Awards.

The King's Awards for Enterprise, formerly known as the Queen's Award for Enterprise, represent the pinnacle of recognition for UK businesses. These prestigious awards celebrate exceptional accomplishments in the following areas:

Innovation
International trade
Sustainable development
Promoting opportunity (with a focus on social mobility)

So strict is the entry criteria, that this esteemed accolade has been bestowed on only 252 companies in 2024. You can find out about the winners below!

Sarah Bailey, Chief Executive Officer at West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce: "We are thrilled that five of our members have been recognised with the King's Award for Enterprise! These prestigious awards celebrate the success of dynamic and innovative companies that lead the way in their various fields and it is a huge testament to the work they have put in over the application period."

Huge congratulations from the Chamber of Commerce!

The Winning Members:

Cokebusters: King's Award for Enterprise - International Trade and King's Award for Enterprise - Innovation

Since incorporation in 2005, Cokebusters has been based at Hawarden Airfield in North Wales. Family owned, the company's foundation centred on the mechanical 'decoking' of tubing and pipeline systems for the oil refining sector. The technique is essential in maintaining operational efficiency and lower energy consumption.

The company subsequently introduced ultrasound inspection technology using an 'intelligent pig' which passes through small diameter tubing and pipelines collecting and analysing data not only to assure cleanliness, but to identify and qualify any areas of corrosion, so ensuring process safety and asset integrity.

Now nearly 20 years old, the company employs over 100 employees internationally and delivers services across South America, USA, Europe and the Middle East.

James Phipps, Managing Director: "This double win is extraordinary, a King's Award in both International Trade and Innovation is indeed a proud success. It's clear that one feeds the other whereby the client belief in our leading tube inspection technology has directly fuelled growth in export trade.

Cokebusters is small enough to be nimble, to energise R&D through close site operation links and react swiftly to customer demands. Across our business we are delighted to receive this supreme accolade, especially knowing we've been so thoroughly vetted."

EA Technology: King's Award for Enterprise - Innovation

EA Technology is a specialist in asset management solutions for owners and operators of electrical networks and assets.

EA Technology's entry focused on the significant innovation and rapid growth achieved by the VisNet arm of the business. A pioneer in the field of Low Voltage management, VisNet has brought to market a unique monitoring solution and analytical software platform that provides valuable insight into electricity network efficiency, optimisation and fault management.

Dave Roberts, Managing Director of VisNet, commented: "It's been an exciting few years for our business, with lots of product development and rapid growth. In fact, we recently celebrated the milestone of 10,000 VisNet Hub units dispatched. I'm positive that this fantastic award will only galvanise our efforts further, as we continue to develop and innovate in the LV power solutions sector to deliver more cutting-edge solutions that improve the overall network resilience and enhance the customer experience."

Limb-art: King's Award for Enterprise - Innovation

Limb-art was founded in 2018 by former Paralympic Medallist Mark Williams PLY and his wife Rachael. It designs and manufactures the worlds coolest prosthetic leg covers for amputees all over the world.

Mark discovered many amputees felt their prosthetics didn't represent their personality and style, leading to feelings of self-consciousness. In the UK, there are approximately 500 new amputees every month, and in the USA, 500 every day. Research showed that 10% of amputees regularly didn't wear their prosthetics or never wore shorts or skirts. They felt their leg was ugly, wasn't part of them, or invited negative comments.

After making a cover for his prosthetic to get a leg shape under trousers, the founder customised it to look "cool" by spraying it to match his car. Many amputees commented on his social media posts and asked to make them one. Realising there was a market, the company was founded and now offers customised decorations.

Mark Williams PLY Founder and CEO of Limb-art: "This is a tremendous honour not only for Limb-art but all the companies, individuals and customers that have helped us along the way"

Ruth Lee: King's Award for Enterprise - Innovation

Ruth Lee Limited, a North Wales manikin manufacturer, has been recognised for its excellence in innovation with its Pool Rescue Training Manikin.

Ruth Lee Ltd is dedicated to improving rescue and safety training around the world by creating manikins which accurately represent a casualty in specific training scenarios including water rescue, emergency evacuation, technical rescue and patient handling. Back in 2016, Ruth Lee Ltd received a request from a Canadian lifeguard, who was frustrated with the traditional training method, which she felt was 'disjointed' and did not accurately replicate a real emergency rescue, Ruth Lee set about creating a manikin which lifeguards could use to complete a full simulated rescue. The result was the Pool Rescue manikin, which lifeguards can recover from the bottom of the pool, tow to the side and perform a safe extrication from the water.

Ruth Lee Ltd.'s Managing Director, Paul McDonnell:

"We are absolutely thrilled and proud that we have been successful in winning the King's Award for Enterprise; indicating that the Pool Rescue manikin is considered to be an outstanding innovation. Drowning prevention and the role that effective water rescue has to play in this is a core foundation of our business.

We are delighted to be awarded one of the highest business accolades in the country and will continue to bring innovation to rescue training communities."

Tension Control Bolts: King's Award for Enterprise - International Trade

Tension Control Bolts Ltd, based in Wrexham, started trading in 1984 and supplies a high strength bolting assembly used for safety critical connections within the structural steel sector.

Tension Control Bolts are produced with an advanced, eco-friendly corrosion protection system called Greenkote. Products are supplied to a variety of sectors, including nuclear, bridges, wind energy, building structures, stadia and high rise, and are supplies to markets in Europe, Asia, Canada and South Africa. Germany and the Netherlands. It has agents and distributors in Australasia, Central Europe, Eastern Europe and East Asia and a Chinese joint venture with overseas sales growing by 601% over the six-year application period and the proportion of sales exported has increased to 58% of total sales.

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