Software firm OrderWise is the Midlands’ top family business

Founded in 1991 by MD David Hallam, OrderWise is one of the UK and Ireland’s leading suppliers of dedicated stock management software for business.

The company was announced winner of the Midlands Family Business Awards’ headline award last night  at a glittering black-tie ceremony at The Velodrome, Derby Arena, attended by 300 guests including all this year’s finalists across the Awards’ ten categories, their sponsors, supporters, and independent judges.

With over 175 staff operating from its Saxilby head office, OrderWise works with organisations operating in a host of industry sectors, from manufacturing, distribution and retail, to healthcare, pharmaceuticals, food and drink.

Highly Commended for Family Business of the Year are wholesale coffee roasting company RW Stokes & Sons, and specialist washing and dry-cleaning firm Micronclean.

Scooping the Best Small Family Business Award, for businesses with an annual turnover of up to £5 million, was Quadzilla Quads. Also based in Lincolnshire, Quadzilla Quads is the UK’s largest importer of road legal and off-road Quads, ATVs and buggies, and has a huge network of dealers across the UK, supplying items for the agricultural, sports and leisure sectors.

Northamptonshire manufacturer and online retailer of laundry, textile care, hygiene and cleaning products Ideal Manufacturing was a double winner on the night, winning the Manufacturing Excellence and the Best Use of Digital Awards.

Other winners of the 2017 Awards are Nottingham third generation, global packing firm, The Wilkins Group, which won the International Trade Award. Telecommunications business Airband Community Internet was named the Fastest Growing Family Business, Newark removals and logistics business Ballards Removals was crowned the Employer of the Year, and marine breakdown and emergency assistance organisation River Canal Rescue won the award for Service Excellence.

Individuals recognised in this year’s Awards are Steve Lloyd of Derbyshire Wholesale catering supplies distributor Magenta (UK) Ltd, who was named the Midlands’ Director of the Year, and founder of Lincolnshire’s Mtag Composites Nick Maltby, the Entrepreneur of the Year.

All forty-three finalists were automatically entered in to the People’s Choice Award sponsored by Streets Chartered Accountants – which saw them face the public vote. The overall winner was River Canal Rescue.

The Awards are the only independent not-for-profit Awards for family businesses in the Midlands, and raise funds for charities supporting families and young people.

This year’s Awards are sponsored by Bonningtons, Barclays, Distinction, John Pye Auctions, MCS Event Pro, Morningside Pharmaceuticals, PwC, Royal London, RSA, Shakespeare Martineau LLP, and Streets Chartered Accountants.

The full line-up of Winners and Highly Commended in the 2017 Awards, are: 

Family Business of the Year – sponsored by Bonningtons

• Winner – OrderWise 
• Highly Commended – RW Stokes & Sons 
• Highly Commended – Micronclean 

Best Small Family Business – sponsored by John Pye Auctions

• Winner – Quadzilla Quads 
• Highly Commended – River Canal Rescue 
• Highly Commended – Rydale Roofing Ltd 

Fastest Growing Family Business – sponsored by PwC

• Winner – Airband Comminity Internet 
• Highly Commended – NK Motors 
• Highly Commended – Rilmac

International Trade – sponsored by Barclays

• Winner – The Wilkins Group 
• Highly Commended – Bambino Mio 
• Highly Commended – WARD 

Employer of the Year – sponsored by Royal London

• Winner – Ballards Removals 
• Highly Commended – Morley Hayes 
• Highly Commended – River Canal Rescue 

Director of the Year – sponsored by MCS Event Pro

• Winner – Steve Lloyd, Magenta (UK) Ltd
• Highly Commended – Sanj Kumar, NK Motors 
• Highly Commended – Des Ponsonby, Corporate Solutions Logistics 

Best Use of Digital – sponsored by Distinction

• Winner – Ideal Manufacturing 
• Highly Commended – Dalycom 
• Highly Commended – Micronclean 

Entrepreneur of the Year – sponsored by Morningside Pharmaceuticals

• Winner – Nick Maltby, Mtag Composites 
• Highly Commended – Redmond Peel, Airband Community Internet 
• Highly Commended – Sean Ramsden, Ramsden International 

Service Excellence – sponsored by Shakespeare Martineau LLP

• Winner – River Canal Rescue 
• Highly Commended – Advance Performance UK 
• Highly Commended – Systematic Print Management 

Manufacturing Excellence – sponsored by RSA

• Winner – Ideal Manufacturing
• Highly Commended – A1 Flue Systems
• Highly Commended – GemPort Jewellery

People’s Choice – sponsored by Streets Chartered Accountants

• Winner – River Canal Rescue
• Highly Commended – Open Study College
• Highly Commended – OrderWise

The Wilson Organisation runs the Awards. MD Charlotte Perkins, commented: “This is the eighth year for the Awards and once again, the Awards team, our panel of judges and each of our sponsors has been bowled over by the exceptional quality, pedigree, innovation and performance of each and every one of the finalists.

“As the regions only independent initiative to recognise and showcase the work and achievements of family businesses, yet again all the winners and finalists prove the vitality of the Midlands’ family business sector and its significant contribution to the region’s economy.”