The Assembly of the Midlands King’s Awards Network
About the Event
Tuesday | 10 September | 2024 | Great Hall & Elgar Concert Hall | University of Birmingham
Watch highlights form the day
The inaugural Assembly of the Midlands King’s Awards Network brought together over 200 Midlands King’s Awards for Enterprise recipients, Lord Lieutenants, government representatives and business support organisations.
Taking place at the University of Birmingham on 10 September, the Assembly hosted a series of dynamic panel discussions and interviews with a diverse range of speakers to showcase their success and how the Midlands region continues to drive economic growth.
The Assembly focused on six pivotal themes:
Business
Leveraging the ingenuity and insights of our business community to understand what makes successful Midlands businesses.
Investment
Attracting investment for business growth and thriving places.
International Trade
Learning from businesses that have achieved global trade growth despite significant challenges.
Innovation
How do we build partnerships to scale innovation, attract investment, and accelerate regional economic growth?
Sustainable Development
Utilising the net zero opportunity to spur innovation, investment and growth, addressing major societal challenges.
Promoting Opportunity
Fostering opportunity and supporting social mobility to ensure a thriving regional society and economy.
Speakers
Sir John Peace
Position: Chairman
Organisation: Midlands Engine
Anne Davies
Position: Journalist and Presentation Coach
Organisation: BBC
Minister Gareth Thomas
Position: MP
Organisation: Harrow West
Mark Briggs PLY
Position: Director of Partnerships
Organisation: Nimbus
Dr Eve Davies
Position: Chief Executive
Organisation: Protectapet
Tullis Matson
Position: Chief Executive
Organisation: Stallion AI Services
Paul Schaffer
Position: Chief Executive
Organisation: Plum Products
Emma Heathcote-James
Position: Chief Executive
Organisation: The Little Soap Company
David Horsefall
Position: Director of Property and Sustainability
Organisation: Webster and Horsefall
Josie Morris MBE DL
Position: Managing Director
Organisation: Wool Packaging Company
Richard Freeman
Position: CEO
Organisation: Zeeko
Tim Reid
Position: CEO
Organisation: UK Export Finance
Nikki Whitfield
Position: CEO
Organisation: Upperton Pharma Solutions
Professor Adam Tickell
Position: Vice-Chancellor and Principal
Organisation: University of Birmingham
Edwina Dunn OBE
Position: Founder & Chair
Organisation: The Female Lead
Ben Amanna
Position: Chief Executive
Organisation: BOXRAW
Dr Robin Elliott
Position: Principal Engineer
Organisation: Onyx Insight
Robert Stevens
Position: Managing Director
Organisation: Proteus Instruments
Charlotte Keenan
Position: Head of Corporate Engagement International and global head of 10,000 Women
Organisation: Goldman Sachs
Jim Campbell OBE
Position: Founder
Organisation: SureScreen Diagnostics Derbyshire
Francoise Derksen
Position: Managing Director
Organisation: Midland Lead
Holly Hunter
Position: Head of Social Value and Marketing
Organisation: Nuneaton Signs
Tajinder Banwait MBE
Position: Founder & Managing Director
Organisation: Urban Apothecary London
Sarah Windrum
Position: Future Mobility Cluster Lead
Organisation: Horiba Mira
Dr Lisa Smith
Position: CEO
Organisation: Midlands Mindforge
Louis Taylor
Position: CEO
Organisation: British Business Bank
Exhibitors
Anpario plc are leaders in the field of speciality feed additives for animal health, nutrition, and biosecurity. Our products capture natures ingenuity and work in harmony with the animal’s biology. We partner with government, industry, and leading research bodies globally. Together we advance product innovation and create long-term natural sustainable solutions, helping to maintain animal health and optimise nutrition throughout the supply chain.
Moasure’s leading motion-based measurement technology enables professionals to save time, bid accurately, and maximize profits on every single job. Calculate complex perimeters, areas, volumes, elevations and much more in minutes – simply by moving.
Brandauer is a world-class engineering business, supplying precision stamped components and tooling to customers throughout the world. Brandauer export 75% and have a history built on precision, Brandauer has an enviable reputation for converting impossible concepts into miniaturised stamped solutions.
Cosy are the fastest growing education distributor in the UK, promoting a natural, engaged and active childhood by supplying sustainable nursery and educational equipment to 33 countries worldwide.
DRPG is a global creative communications group. The group creates and delivers integrated communications solutions and experiences for an industry wide range of clients and brands, for both external and internal audiences worldwide.
Elcom is an award-winning manufacturer specialising in Anti-Static and ESD products, as well as industrial flooring and anti-fatigue solutions. Our commitment to quality and innovation has positioned us as a leader in the industry, delivering exceptional products that enhance safety and productivity.
SEADA Technology Limited is a UK based, 2019 Queens Award for Enterprise winning, world-leading manufacturer of Video Wall Controllers, Conference technology and Pro AV solutions. We are also ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Certified.
KPM Marine has been innovating safety at sea for 30 years and has four product divisions designing making WBV seats, pump systems , Engine air control systems and modular interiors. With factories in Birmingham and Glasgow we export to 38 countries.
We’re proud to be known as ‘The UK’s Shower Company,’ having produced expertly engineered, innovative shower designs since 1975. We have been at the forefront of providing customers with energy-efficient showering for over 45 years. Our showers are expertly designed and rigorously tested to ensure a reliable, enjoyable product that works perfectly every time.
Halo is leading the way in intelligent incident management and safety solutions, bringing a new way of using technology to connect everybody who plays a part in public safety with the right information in the right place at the right time.
Derbyshire based TDP designs and manufactures outdoor furniture such as picnic tables, benches, planters and bird tables using recycled plastic. So far we’ve prevented the equivalent of nearly three billion plastic bottles from entering waterways, oceans and landfill. We are proud to have been one of the first recipients of the King’s Award for Enterprise for Sustainable Development in 2023.
Slicker Recycling specialises in the management of waste oils and other workshop waste. Through our industry-leading waste-oil-to-base-oil solution, we help our customers significantly reduce their carbon footprint and contribute towards a circular economy.
Aston Martin aims to be the world’s most desirable ultra-luxury British brand, renowned for its stylish, high-performance cars. Founded in 1913 by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford, the company is famous for models like the Vantage, DB12, DBS, DBX, and the Valkyrie hypercar. Aston Martin blends cutting-edge technology with classic craftsmanship and is transitioning to electric drivetrains, with plans for PHEV and BEV models between 2025 and 2030. Based in Gaydon, England, and St Athan, Wales, Aston Martin exports globally and is committed to achieving net-zero manufacturing by 2030.
Here at Unity Trust Bank, we aim to be the bank of choice for all socially-minded organisations in the UK. Through safe, sustainable growth, we support our customers to deliver social, economic, or environmental change in their communities while also meeting their commercial needs. We provide sustainable banking services to businesses that share our principles of acting with integrity and only take deposits or provide finance to organisations where there is an alignment to our values, and we can measure impact.
S&A is the UK’s largest independent strawberry grower, with its home farm in Herefordshire and farming interests in other parts of the UK and around the globe. We run Europe’s largest independent breeding program for strawberries within which we currently market to 8 European countries and are exploring North America.
Shelforce is a Birmingham window and door manufacturer based in Erdington which supplies uPVC windows, doors and fire doors to local authorities, including Birmingham City Council, and 75% of its 36-strong team have a physical or mental disabilities thanks to an inclusive approach to recruitment and training, which has resulted in a record turnover for the last three years.
WilloGame is one of the country’s leading processors of high quality Wild Game. Based in Shropshire, we have an enviable reputation for supplying high quality and innovative Wild Game, which is supplied throughout the country and found in many of the top Michelin starred restaurants. We also export abroad, where prime British Wild Game is seen as a valued product both on the Continent, the Middle East and indeed the Far East.
Fortress Safety specialises in machinery safety and interlocking, providing life-saving solutions that protect people and equipment in industrial workplaces globally. Headquarters are in Wolverhampton (UK), with supporting offices and manufacturing facilities in the USA, Europe, Australia, China, and India, further supported by a global network of trusted distributors and channel partners.
The Midlands Green Innovation Network supports small businesses to innovate to optimise resource-use, minimise environmental impact, improve sustainability performance, and develop green products. The Network is run by Energy Research Accelerator and HyDEX with the support of Federation of Small Business and Midlands Engine.
UK Export Finance (UKEF) is the UK government’s export credit agency. We support UK exporters, international project sponsors and buyers of UK goods and services; in the year 2023-24, we provided £8.8 billion in new, direct support for UK exports by working alongside over 100 banks and lenders to provide flexible, innovative and competitive financing solutions.
Barkers Fencing are the UK’s leading fencing and gate manufacturer with products ranging from basic demarcation to high-security products tested to national and international standards.
Tyseley Energy Park (TEP) is a hub for sustainable energy innovation, incubating cutting-edge technologies, research, and industry collaboration. The site drives advancements in clean energy, recycling, and green transport, positioning Birmingham at the forefront of the UK’s decarbonisation efforts.
Proteus Instruments leading the way against water pollution across the world with innovative water quality sensors.
We are the department for economic growth. The King’s Awards for Enterprise Office is part of DBT who support businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities across the country.
Nuneaton Signs are a social enterprise, originally set up as a Sheltered workshop by our local authority in 1982. We wouldn’t be here without the support of local people, and that’s one of the reasons why it’s so important to us to support our local community whenever we possibly can.