Laser technology by winner Powerlase, run by Lee Lockwood
Four Sussex businesses
have been recognised for
exceptional achievement
after winning a prestigious
Queen's Award for Enterprise.
Oceanair Marine Ltd, based in
Selsey and Powerlase, based in
Crawley, each earned an award
for international trade, while
Pureprint Group, of Uckfield,
and Crawley-based Utilicom
Group won theirs for sustainable
development.
The awards are designed to
honour Britain's most outstanding
companies and are conferred
each year by the Queen on the
advice of the Prime Minister.
Announcing the winners,
Prime Minister Gordon Brown
said: "Queen's Award winning
companies are standard-bearers
for the very best of British
business.
"These firms embody the
spirit of enterprise and innovation
that is so vital to the future
of Britain's economy.
"Whether large or small, every
one of this year's winning organisations
has achieved outstanding
success in its field.
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"I congratulate them all on
their diverse and remarkable
achievements."
The awards have delighted
staff and management at the
winning companies.
Powerlase, which employs 62
people and manufactures lasers
for flat-panel monitors, was
recognised for increasing its
overseas sales by a remarkable
684% to more than £9 million a
year in three years, exporting
virtually all of its production.
Les Lockwood, executive
director at Powerlase, said: "By
working closely with our customers
and partners in mainland
Europe, Korea, Japan and the
US, we have been able to identify
their exact requirements and
develop laser technology to meet
their needs.
"This has really fuelled our
international growth."
Oceanair has a staff of 119
and designs, manufactures and
distributes window and hatch
blinds and screens for boats,
vehicles and houses, using fabric,
PVC, wood and metal.
The company has won the
award twice before, in 2001 and
2005, and sells to 37 countries
around the world. Over a threeyear
period export sales rose by
65%.
Pureprint secured the award
for its groundbreaking pureprint
environmental printing system,
which reduces energy and carbon
consumption, minimises use
of harmful chemicals, sources
paper from sustainable forests
and operates a high level of
recycling.
Richard Osborne, managing
director of Pureprint, said: "This
is the second time we have
received the Queen's Award for
Sustainable Development.
"Since our first award in 2003
the business has trebled in size
and we are now able to offer the
highest standards of environmental
printing not as a niche
product but as a mainstream,
affordable business choice."
Utilicom, which employs just
under 100 staff, designs energy
systems, which supply heating,
electricity and cooling to clients
from all market sectors in order
for them to cut their carbon
emissions.
The company has worked on
schemes ranging from a 300-unit
housing development with a care
home in Hatfield, Hertfordshire,
to city-wide projects in places
such as Southampton and
Birmingham.
Chief executive Simon
Woodward said: "We are
delighted to win this award
because it recognises our unique
track record in developing decentralised
sustainable energy
scheme across both small and
large-scale urban areas."
Each winning company will be
presented with a hand-made
crystal glass bowl on behalf of
the Queen by lord lieutenants.
The deadline for applications
for the 2009 awards is October 31.
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