Zaun Limited was crowned the winner last night of the International Trade Award 2014 at the Black Country Chamber of Commerce Awards at Wolverhampton Racecourse.
Zaun beat off competition from Cooper Coated Coil Ltd and Dudley College for the International Trade Award, sponsored by Wolverhampton Racecourse.
We were also shortlisted for the hotly-contested Manufacturer of the Year Award, where we lost out to Ultra Furniture Limited and were also up against Business of the Year Award winner voestalpine Metsec plc.
For the international trade award, the judges were impressed that Zaun had focused on a very well planned strategic move into various international trade areas throughout the world, concentrating in the Middle East and Dubai. They said we planned our ambitious growth by grabbing opportunities given by such major events as the London Olympics 2012.
Judge Claire Barratt, Group Director of Communications, Accord Group, said: “The businesses that were shortlisted are delivering really innovative technologies that are not only creating jobs but wealth and immediate benefits to families living in the Black Country. The West Midlands used to be known as ‘the workshop of the world’, and knowing what I do now, to me, it is still just that.”
The awards were dished out by Awards host Chamber president Ninder Johal, compere for the night BBC Midlands’ Phil Upton and guest speaker Colin Lambert, a former leader of Rochdale Council, who took Rochdale’s local education authority from being named as fourth-worst in the country to the most improved authority in England.
Paul Linton, Chair of the Chamber Judging Panel and President of Sandwell, said: “The Chamber Awards Dinner is a perfect opportunity to celebrate and reward excellence in businesses in the Black Country. The judging panel and I were very impressed with the high standard and diversity of award entries this year.”
