Champions for manufacturing honoured at awards

The winners of the Cornwall Manufacturers Group (CMG) awards have been announced, celebrating the best and brightest of manufacturing talent in the county.

Excelling business leaders, exporters, apprentices, community projects and innovations were celebrated at a special ceremony hosted by Richard Rumbelow, Director of International Affairs and Exports for Make UK (the Manufacturers Organisation), and attended by over 160 of the counties business leaders and manufacturing pioneers.

Eric Nicholls, chairman of the CMG says: “These awards are an opportunity for Cornwall’s thriving manufacturing companies to showcase the dynamic and progressive sector. Manufacturing accounts for 10% of Cornwall’s GVA, in a sector that sees the South West deliver £14.3bn to the UK economy. The importance and value of manufacturing cannot be underestimated and tonight’s event shines the spotlight on the county’s £732m manufacturing industry, recognising and rewarding the talent our county is fortunate to have.”

This year’s competition saw an exceptional quality and number of entrants with judges interviewing and visiting candidates over several days to truly get ‘under the skin’ of the organisations.

There were three finalists in each of the award categories with the winners as follows:

• Manufacturer of the Year – Composite Integration
• Apprentice/Trainee of the Year – Emily Brown, DP Engineering
• Environmental/Community Project – St Austell Print Company
• Innovation/Improvement project of the Year – Unmanned Survey Solutions
• Exporter of the Year – Teagle
• Business Leadership award – Dr David Hodgson, PV3 Technologies
• Outstanding Contribution to Manufacturing – Ken Martin

Jon Hurrell, CEO of the CMG concludes: “Securing Richard as a speaker for our awards ceremony, having him share his knowledge and direct dealings with Government on Brexit, highlights the increasingly national and international role Cornwall’s manufacturers play. This is absolute recognition by global business leaders of the important role of manufacturing to Cornwall’s economy and we were delighted and honoured to have his support.”

The awards, headlined by Make UK, were sponsored by SWMAS, Acceleration Through Innovation, The Skills Hub, Beacon Project, Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, Bishop Fleming and Lloyds Bank.