Martek Marine

Rotherham-based Martek Marine has added another prestigious accolade to their growing collection of honours.

Martek Marine, who supplies safety and environmental monitoring systems to the worldwide marine industry, was named Incubate of the Year at the 2005 UK Business Incubation (UKBI) Conference at Sheffield City Hall.

Managing Director Paul Luen collected the award at the international conference dinner and he highlighted the help his company received from UK Trade & Investment.

Martek Marine, launched in 2000, has enjoyed dramatic growth, increasing employee numbers from just two to 26 and gaining business in 82 countries.

Paul said: “More than 85 per cent of our trade is overseas and we have worked closely with UK Trade & Investment on a number of issues to boost the business and we hope to continue to do so in the future.

“Their support has involved helping us to prepare marketing information, develop translation services and provide an opportunity to attend trade missions around the world.”

They were also named SYITC Exporter of the Year in 2003 and Paul admits the business has developed at an extraordinary rate.

He added: “We have become a seasoned export market developer and grown from a small incubator to a corporate small and medium enterprise (SME). I am planning to deliver a more strategic culture to the organisation in the coming months.

“We have opened an office in Hong Kong and we will be looking to expand that further in the future. I am also targeting offices in Japan.

“In our next financial year we will be looking at achieving a turnover of more than eight figures. We have exceeded all our expectations and ambitions.”

Shaun Warren, International Trade Team Manager for UK Trade & Investment in South Yorkshire, said: “This is great news for Martek Marine. I am delighted their achievements have been recognised on an international scale.”