Shropshire firms delighted with royal recognition

Landau, based in Wellington, and Telford-based Aviramp, Reconomy and Scanning Pens were among the 205 businesses in the UK to be recognised for outstanding achievement after winning a Queen’s Award for Enterprise.

Charity Landau, which has provided supported employment and training services to a range of individuals for 25 years, has been handed the accolade for Promoting Opportunity (through Social Mobility) for its impressive range of employment and training programmes and for helping thousands of people to turn their lives around.

CEO Sonia Roberts said: "We are incredibly proud of the work we do and the opportunities we create for thousands of individuals that want to turn their lives around but don’t quite know where to start.

“All of our services are heavily focused around delivering individual interventions. This means we work very hard to get to know every person who walks through our doors so that we can understand their personal aspirations.

“We then develop a pathway to learning or employment, which builds on their existing skills and strengths, so that we can help them achieve their life-long goals.

“So, it is a huge privilege for us to have been recognised in this way and I would like to extend my congratulations to the entire team at Landau. Without doubt, it is their passion and drive that enables us to achieve so much.”

Aviramp, which designs, manufactures, installs and maintains mobile airline passenger boarding ramps, won an International Trade award.

Its boarding ramps have been revolutionary within the aviation ground handling sector and its products are prevalent worldwide in the USA, South America, Australasia, the Far East, Africa, Europe and Scandinavia.

The company is also constantly innovating and evolving, and has recently introduced a complete range of solar powered boarding ramps to service all aircraft types. This has helped to create a sustainable airport environment and reduces the carbon footprint.

CEO Graham Corfield said: "We are so delighted on winning this prestigious award, it feels like a huge victory for the whole team, each plays a vital role in the business, and all are passionate ambassadors of the brand."

Scanning Pens, which distributes award-winning assistive technology supporting the development of users with reading difficulties, also won an International Trade award.

Created in 2003 by Oxford Brookes graduates Jack Churchill and Toby Sutton, Scanning Pens is a dedicated EdTech company supplying text-to-speech devices to people with dyslexia, as well as raising awareness of dyslexia worldwide and supporting people whose daily lives are impacted by literacy differences.

Mr Churchill said: “To be recognised by the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise is the highest honour in business. We’re thrilled that our dedication to literacy and reading accessibility has been acknowledged in such a way that celebrates the commitment of everybody here at Scanning Pens.”

Waste management firm Reconomy, which is transforming the waste industry with end-to-end digitisation, ultimately reducing waste sent to landfill, won an Innovation award.

Reconomy’s innovative business model has transformed the management of housebuilding, construction, commercial and industrial waste in the UK, utilising market-leading digital technology to manage waste more efficiently, transparently, safely and with greater consideration given to the environment and sustainability.

Reconomy has experienced an unprecedented period of sustained growth during the last five years. In 2020 the company claimed 47th spot in the Sunday Times PwC Top Track 250 list – leaping 150 places from its 2019 position.

Paul Cox, CEO of Reconomy, said: “This is an incredible honour for everyone associated with Reconomy and a landmark day in the journey of our business. The Queen’s Award for Enterprise is the most prestigious, sought-after award that any UK business can receive and is an incredible testament to the hard work of all our people.

“The development and roll-out of new technology underpins every aspect of our business model, and this award acknowledges our continued commitment to innovative thinking. It demonstrates that we are not only at the forefront of the outsourced services industry, but are also a leading light across all sectors as we pursue our ambition to be the leading provider of technology-enabled services to drive the circular economy.”

Now in its 55th year, the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are the most prestigious business awards in the country.

This year, 205 businesses have been honoured with an award with 18 organisations being recognised for Promoting Opportunity through social mobility, a further 48 companies recognised for their excellence in Innovation, 122 for their contribution to International Trade and 17 for demonstrating a real commitment to Sustainable Development.

Winners are invited to a royal reception, can fly the Queen’s Award flag at their main office and use the emblem on marketing material for five years, and are given a grant of appointment and a crystal trophy.