Innovation:
Elcom, in Queniborough, Leicestershire, was set up in 2018 and has rapidly expanded to become a leading UK based manufacturer of protective products for industries including automotive, aerospace, electronics and defence.
Flexeserve, in Hinckley, Leicestershire, is an expert in “hot-holding” equipment – helping global food operators serve hot food. Its Flexeserve Zone creates a consistent air temperature throughout each shelf, which can be individually controlled.
Imagesound, in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, was formed in 1998 and provides bespoke media content to organizations such as shops and hotel chains. Traditionally music or video content played in public premises came on CD or DVD. Its Imagesound Management System is a cloud platform delivering bespoke media content to clients globally.
Nimbus: The Disability Consultancy Service, in Pride Park, Derby, which was set up by disabled people in 2006 to advise organizations on how best to meet needs in line with the Disability Discrimination Act. In particular it works with venues to accommodate the needs of disabled users.
Peak NDT, in Jubilee Business Park, Derby, was set up in 1995, and makes high performance ultrasonic testing instruments.
Oncimmune Holdings, in Nottingham, was founded in 2004 and has developed innovative autoantibody profiling technologies that has enabled it to become a leading immunodiagnostics developer and pharma services provider. His pioneering work has created a portfolio of nearly 200 granted and pending patents.
Qdos Contractor, in Rearsby, Leicestershire, was established in 2006, and provides advice and services on employment status regarding IR35 legislation and business insurance to the self-employed market.
International Trade:
Ampetronic is based in Newark, Notts, and has been trading since 1987. Its mission is to bring intelligible sound back into the lives of people with hearing loss by improving the quality of installed hearing access equipment. Overseas sales grew by 110 per cent over six years with top markets including the United States, Norway, Australia, Germany and Sweden.
Cellomatics Biosciences, based in Biocity, Nottingham, was established in 2015 as a contract research organization that provides pre-clinical in-vitro testing services for biotechnology and pharmaceutical clients. It focuses on five therapeutic areas, oncology, immuno-oncology, immunology, inflammation and respiratory, and has supported 160 projects for 55 clients in 17 countries.
DEA Aviation is based at Retford Airport, Notts, and uses aerial sensing and digital processing technology in dynamic, challenging environments worldwide. It is frequently relied upon to provide critical security services of national importance. Overseas sales have grown six fold between 2016 and 2021 with 85 per cent of its 2021 revenue from exported services.
Diamond Hard Surfaces is based at the Caswell Science and Technology Park, in Towcester, Northamptonshire, and provides a unique diamond material which gives extended life in high temperature, chemically aggressive and abrasive environments. It works with blue chip businesses in 22 countries in the electronics, energy, aerospace and chemical processing sectors. Overseas sales grew by almost 200 per cent in three years.
Donald Ward, trading as Ward, is based in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, and is a national recycling company dating back to the 1940s. It processes around a million tonnes of materials annually, recycling products such as metal, plastic, glass, cardboard, wood, textiles, soil, and hardcore. Its five biggest overseas markets are Pakistan, Turkey, India, Hong Kong, and Belgium.
Flair Flooring Group, in Glossop, Derbyshire, designs, sources and supplies rugs from international manufacturers, before shipping them to overseas customers or one of its two warehouses in the UK. Overseas sales increased by 112 per cent over three years and it supplies 26 countries, mostly within Europe. Ireland is its biggest market followed by France, Romania, the Czech Republic and Poland. It also won the Queen’s Award for International Trade in 2019.
Imagesound, in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, was formed in 1998 and provides bespoke media content to large organizations such as shops and hotel chains. Its Imagesound Management System is a cloud platform delivering bespoke media content to clients globally.
Logi-tek (UK) is based in Stamford, Lincs and was founded in 2002. It is an independent commissioning and technical management consultancy for mechanical and engineering systems. Additional services, including quality assessments, design management and validation and diagnosis analysis, were added and it has expanded into new sectors including financial, commercial, pharmaceutical, retail, data centers and museum/heritage.
Peak NDT, in Jubilee Business Park, Derby, was set up in 1995, and makes high performance ultrasonic testing instruments. It previously won the Queen’s Award for Innovation in 2011. Annual overseas sales have doubled over three years, growing from 58 per cent to 71 per cent of total turnover. It has established customers in most regions of the world, with recent sales channels developed in India, Japan and Singapore.
PR Marriott Drilling, based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, started in 1991 and is a specialist company providing drilling and associated services to the oil, gas, gas storage, geothermal, geoscience, mining and water industries. The company currently operates in the UK, Switzerland, Kenya, Mozambique, Bolivia and is developing new business in Kuwait and Ethiopia.
Unimed Procurement Services, based in Leicester, began trading in April 2018. It acts as a procurement agent for humanitarian relief organisations, NGOs and charities, sourcing quality healthcare supplies and delivering them to global locations.
Urban Apothecary was founded in Billesdon, Leicestershire, in 2012 and makes luxury home fragrance and bath and body products which it sells in the UK and to 30 international markets. Its products range from candles, diffusers, and room sprays to body products, such as cleansing gels, hand and body lotions and soaps. In response to Covid-19, it launched a luxury hand sanitiser gel.
Plum Products, in Lincoln, was founded in 1988 by a husband and wife team and designs, manufactures and sells trampolines, swings, climbing frames, outdoor and indoor toys. In six years to December 2020, its overseas sales grew by 1,009 per cent now making up nearly 40 per cent of all sales. It sells to more than 57 countries worldwide and its top five markets in 2020 were USA, Canada, Australia Germany, and Holland.
Sustainable development:
Bambino Mio, in Brixworth, Northants, was established in 1997, and employs 103 staff. Its focus is to reduce single-use plastic waste through making reusable napkins the first choice for parents, through accessibility and education. It has gone from a local, family run initiative to an international success story by growing to become one of the world’s leading reusable nappy brands, covering more than 50 countries. It won the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise in International Trade in 2020.
Collaborate and Innovate – trading as Cosy, is based in Fauld, Derbyshire, and supplies ethically produced and environmentally friendly outdoor play equipment. It has formed effective partnerships, for instance sharing recycling ideas with schools and nurseries. It supports community projects in the UK and Africa, sponsoring children so they can receive schooling in Kenya and Tanzania, and helping to pay for new school facilities and funding three sports coaches in The Gambia.