Queen’s Awards for six elite South Yorkshire firms

Six ‘outstanding’ South Yorkshire companies have received a Queen’s Award for Enterprise, the UK’s highest business honour.
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They have been recognised nationally in one of three categories: Innovation, International Trade and ‘Promoting Opportunity’.

It is double the number of South Yorkshire companies recognised last year. The Queen’s Awards scheme was instituted by Royal Warrant in 1965. Winning businesses can use the esteemed Queen’s Awards emblem for the next five years.

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Lord-Lieutenant Andrew Coombe, the Queen’s representative in South Yorkshire, said: “I am delighted that six companies in South Yorkshire have been successful in winning this prestigious award.

OSL Cutting Technologies Group MD Matthew Grey.OSL Cutting Technologies Group MD Matthew Grey.
OSL Cutting Technologies Group MD Matthew Grey.

“They are just six more examples of the extraordinary work being carried out by creative and innovative companies, both at home and abroad. I hope that other companies will be encouraged to apply as it brings good news and well-deserved recognition to the county and region.”

THE WINNERS

OSL Cutting Technologies – International Trade

Burgess Road, Attercliffe.

Gillian Taylor, clinical consultant and inventor of the Patient Transfer Scale/Gillian Taylor, clinical consultant and inventor of the Patient Transfer Scale/
Gillian Taylor, clinical consultant and inventor of the Patient Transfer Scale/

Founded in 2001, OSL Cutting Technologies is a manufacturer of cutting tools and hole cutting solutions.

It is a subsidiary of OSL Group and has grown through a mixture of acquisitions and integration of brands. Following the 2019 acquisition of Universal Drilling and Cutting Equipment, OSL Cutting Technologies now owns and operates five manufacturing brands from its headquarters in Sheffield; as well as offices in Chicago USA and Oostvoorne Netherlands.

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Over three years overseas sales have grown by 60 per cent a year and by £6,7m to £11.4m, and now make up 69 per cent of all sales.

Its main markets in 2019 were United States, Germany, Netherlands, Canada and Norway. It aims to become a world leading original equipment manufacturer (OEM) manufacturer of hole cutting equipment.

Nurses at the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield with the Patient Transfer Scale.Nurses at the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield with the Patient Transfer Scale.
Nurses at the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield with the Patient Transfer Scale.

The company wins the Queen's Award for International Trade for Outstanding Short Term Growth in overseas sales over the last three years.

AESSEAL Plc – Innovation

Mill Close, Rotherham.

Founded in 1979, Aesseal Plc is a specialist in the design and manufacture of mechanical seals and support systems. The company has developed and patented a range of Short Canister Mixer Seals (SCMS) for difficult sealing applications; including a broad range of mixer, agitator, and reactor applications.

AESSEAL staff are celebrating their 12th Queen's Award win.AESSEAL staff are celebrating their 12th Queen's Award win.
AESSEAL staff are celebrating their 12th Queen's Award win.
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The company has utilised advanced technology and concepts throughout the design, development and manufacturing stages to create the product range and has obtained certification ensuring they can be used in locations where flammable liquids, vapours, gases, or dusts have the potential to cause a fire or explosion. It is the firm’s 12th Queen’s Award.

Marsden Weighing Machine Group Ltd – Innovation

Genesis Business Park, Sheffield Road, Rotherham.

Marsden Weighing Machine Group Ltd started trading in 1971 and primarily supplies the medical market.

In 2018 the company launched the Patient Transfer Scale (PTS), a board used to move patients from trolley to bed with a built-in weighing scale. The patient just needs to remain on the PTS for a few seconds for their weight to register. It means the weight of an immobile patient no longer needs to be estimated for accurate drug dosage and treatments.

The idea originated from frontline nurse, Gillian Taylor, who is named as inventor on the multiple global patents, granted and applied for.

Naylor CEO Edward Naylor has been running the business since 1993.Naylor CEO Edward Naylor has been running the business since 1993.
Naylor CEO Edward Naylor has been running the business since 1993.

Naylor Clayware – International Trade

Actons Works, Lane Head Road, Cawthorne, Barnsley.

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Naylor Clayware, a division of Naylor Drainage Ltd, was founded in 1938 and is an independent operating division of a fourth generation family-owned business.

It manufactures specialist clay pipe systems for trenchless installation and aggressive operating environments.

The company's products are designed for international construction activity. Overseas sales have increased over three years by 161 per cent; and now account for 26.3 per cent of the total.

The company has sold its products in 65 markets, its top five are Germany, Poland, Belgium, Singapore and New Zealand.

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In recent years it has broken into new markets in New Zealand, Brunei, Singapore and South Africa. The company wins the Queens Award for International Trade for Outstanding Short Term Growth in overseas sales over the last three years.

BetterYou Ltd - Innovation

Shortwood Business Park, Barnsley.

BetterYou Ltd was established in 2005 as a natural health company specialising in the supplementation of key nutrients lost through modern diet and lifestyle.

Based on scientific research that demonstrated the effectiveness of absorption of drugs delivered via an intra-oral spray compared to injection, and by developing pump spray technology, the company created a range of nutritional oral sprays.

Academic research partner, Dr Charles Heard of Cardiff University, determined that optimal absorption takes place in the inner cheek, called the buccal membrane, as opposed to the sub-lingual area of the mouth that was the prior target for oral delivery.

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This discovery underpinned further innovations in pump technology to deliver a spray plume that effectively coats the inner cheek. It is of note that two doctorates have been focused on the study of BetterYou vitamin D oral spray research.

COMMUNITY SHOP – Promoting Opportunity

Wentworth Ind Estate, Tankersley, Barnsley.

Community Shop is a community interest company based in South Yorkshire but operating regionally and in London.

It aims to 'build stronger individuals and confident communities' through its retail stores. The first opened in 2013, with five more since. They provide discounted food and also run as community hubs in communities in the top 10 per cent for deprivation. Customers come from a wide range of disadvantaged groups.

The Success Plan, a package of 11 support programmes, helps people to 'identify their assets' and the barriers they experience. A team of professional mentors then write bespoke support plans and participants undertake group work to overcome those barriers. Graduates from the Success Plan can also train as Community Leaders. The company also runs a community kitchen, cafe and cookery school. In total it has worked with and supported almost 8,000 families.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Please take out a digital subscription or buy a paper.

Thank you. Nancy Fielder, editor.

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