Honouring our export stars

South Bank firms gathered at Forest Pines at Broughton, near Brigg, for the South Humberside Export Association (SHEA) Awards Dinner, organised by the Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce.

The event paid tribute to local companies that have successfully managed to maximise on export opportunities and grow their turnover. Open to all businesses, large and small, in Northern Lincolnshire, the organisers stressed that companies were judged not only on their figures, but also on effort.

After an inspirational speech by Bill Wood, retiring Chairman of Cosalt Group plc, commending local businesses on their ever-increasing export achievements, the awards were given out.

The main award, and a prize of £1000, sponsored by Cosalt and NatWest, went to GB Solo, for demonstrating what the judges felt to be the best effort and achievement in its export performance. The second prize of £500, sponsored by North Lincolnshire Council and North East Lincolnshire Council, was awarded to Grimley Smith Associates.

Mariner Packaging won the special prize for the New Exporter of the Year, sponsored by UKTI. Also given out was the Language Award, sponsored by Yorkshire Forward, which offers a £500 prize to the company that has made the best use of language and culture to increase and promote exports. This went to Somi Trailers.

Following the awards, playwright, poet and broadcaster Ian McMillan kept the guests entertained with his humorous poems and plenty of audience participation.

Anne Tate, Secretary of SHEA, said, "The Chamber of Commerce is always looking for ways to reward business excellence in the region. The SHEA Awards are a great way to showcase the talent and achievement of our local exporters and we congratulate all the winners of this year's awards."

Article and images courtesy of Business Link Magazine