A BRIGHTON pharmaceutical search firm has been awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for outstanding contribution to international trade.

The Queen’s Award scheme is regarded as the most prestigious business accolade in the country and 2016 marks its 51st anniversary.

Stelfox held a celebration ceremony at its offices in International House, Queen’s Road, with the special guest of honour Peter Field, appointed by The Queen as Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for East Sussex.

He presented the award to MD Steve Kerassitis and told the guests, including staff and Brighton Mayor Pete West, it was a tremendous accolade.

Mr Field said: “This award is very special. It says the company is gold standard and it is recognised internationally. Receiving this accolade sends out a message that this company is right up there with any organisation.

“It is an outstanding achievement for Stelfox, and I know of other companies who have won this award in the past and whose sales went through the roof in the next year.

“I must pay tribute to the staff who deserve great praise. They have all played their part in winning the award.”

Stelfox is an executive search consultancy focusing solely within life sciences, locally and globally.

It says it is committed to providing solutions and creating opportunities through innovation and collaboration.

It prides itself on ‘offering a broad range of recruitment and talent services to provide excellent talent strategies and consistently deliver critical success’.

Mr Kerassitis said it was a true honour for the company and recognition of a great team.

Prestigious

He said: “We were honoured to welcome the Lord Lieutenant to our offices for the presentation of Queen’s Award for Enterprise.

“Receiving this award has been an amazing experience and I’m incredibly proud of the team for receiving such prestigious recognition in the international trade category.

“Opening up our offices to some of Brighton’s great and good, and getting the chance to celebrate with our closest family and friends has really been the icing on the cake.”

He said the company had seen three years of outstanding growth, and Stelfox celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.

He said: “We have doubled in size over the last four years and we have now opened offices in Switzerland. We have an incredible team and we have won a number of other awards in the past.”

In 2015 Stelfox recorded an increase in international turnover of almost a third – 29 per cent, exceeding the industry average by more than 20 per cent.

This overseas expansion has also helped fuel the company’s overall turnover, which last year grew by 44 per cent.

This year’s award organisers also recognised Stelfox’s ongoing commitment to international development, including its expanding operations into Asia and Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and a new office in Basel, Switzerland, in 2016.

Over the past eight years Stelfox has transformed from a three-person UK based operation, largely concentrating on the domestic market, to a 20-plus strong company with an international focus.

Stelfox is now the staffing partner of choice for more than 20 international pharmaceutical and biotech companies with a highly tailored service, from securing chief scientific officers for start-up biotechs in Europe, to sourcing senior commercial appointments for pharmaceutical companies in the USA.

Mr Kerassitis said: “Stelfox is a thoroughly international brand – UK headquartered, run by two Aussies, employing a largely multilingual workforce and recently launching our new branch in Basel.

“This international focus is a significant factor in our success, coupled with our commitment to developing close industry and academic ties and working hard to forecast and stay ahead of the biggest market trends, and ultimately, our clients’ needs.

“But it’s safe to say we wont be resting on our laurels – over the next four years we plan to launch offices in Germany, New York and Madrid, and by 2019 aim to establish bases in the Asia Pacific region.”

In recognition of the award, the Stelfox management team, including managing director Mr Kerassitis and director Anna Pak Poy were invited to attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in July.

The company has a team of interim-focused consultants with a vast network of experienced, senior-level contract employees across the life sciences sector.

This includes contractors for the purposes of ongoing requirements – short or long-term projects, maternity cover, supplementing manpower whilst hiring full-time employees and expert consulting.