Penny Hydraulics crowned Midlands Family Business of 2010
Penny Hydraulics of Chesterfield, Derbyshire, has been crowned the Midlands Family Business of the Year in the region’s first-ever awards initiative to spotlight the most talented family businesses and their leaders.
The company was revealed as the Awards’ headline winner at a glittering ceremony last night (Thursday 11th November 2010) at the family-owned Thrumpton Hall near Nottingham, when all ten overall category winners and their runners-up were also unveiled, whittled down from the shortlisted five businesses per category by the judging panels.
Penny Hydraulics has been in the engineering business for over 30 years, and manufactures hydraulic lifting equipment, bespoke handling solutions and specialist mining services. The company’s Robin and Tim Penny were presented with the Award by Alistair Wesson of RSM Tenon, headline sponsor of the Midlands Family Business Awards, and Charlotte Prow, MD of The Wilson Organisation, which has underwritten the Awards. Both judged the category alongside Tim Storer, managing director of Pukka Pies and John O’Reilly of emda.
Scotts of Thrapston, Northamptonshire, was voted runner-up in the headline Award category, with Birmingham’s Grayson Thermal Systems confirmed as second runner-up. Whittaker Office Solutions, Loughborough, and Anand International of Leicester were also shortlisted for the Award.
The judging schedule throughout September involved informal interviews with all shortlisted family businesses.
For a full list of the winners please see www.familybusinessawards.co.uk/the-winners.
Commenting on the Awards and the calibre of entries, judge Peter Thornton said: “All candidates were of a very high standard. The resilience and innovation displayed was typical of the values of the family business sector.”
Mark Samworth of Samworth Brothers added: “All winners and shortlisted finalists demonstrated an obvious passion for their businesses and their customers – something that clearly made a difference and demonstrates why customers are so loyal to family businesses.”
Carrie Rubin, Director of Pentland Group said: “The calibre of the nominees has been very high and judging was very challenging and tough.”
Project Manager of the Awards, Hilary Campton, Director of V Formation Limited, commented: “All winners, finalists and indeed every single entrant of the Awards simply proves the wealth of top quality family run and owned businesses we have operating in every corner of the Midlands. Each of the Award judges and supporters has demonstrated both their understanding and support of what lies at the heart of running a successful family business. Everyone involved is thrilled at the reception this inaugural Midlands Family Business Awards has received from the regions communities.”
Wilsons’ Charlotte Prow added: “One of the main aims of the Awards was to demonstrate the value that family businesses bring to the Midlands economy, and I am convinced that this has been achieved, based on the high calibre of both the businesses and individuals who have entered and those that have scooped the top honours in the Awards.”
A full list of the winners and runners-up in the Awards’ ten categories is available at http://www.familybusinessawards.co.uk/the-winners.
More than one-hundred and twenty family run or owned businesses from across the Midlands entered the Awards, which are a not-for-profit venture, with all proceeds going to charities supporting young enterprise and young people - The Children’s Society, The Willow Foundation and The Venture Foundation.
For more information about the Awards or interviews with successful businesses, please contact Hilary Campton on 07908 124772 or
