Superior, a Dorset-based manufacturer of high integrity o-rings and seals, has won regional recognition at this year’s prestigious EEF Future Manufacturing Awards.
The Ferndown-based manufacturer which currently has 20 apprentices going through its Apprenticeship Academy, won Gold in the Business Growth category and Gold in the Partnerships category.
The Business Growth category recognises dynamic business growth and investment made in technology and staff to support growth objectives. Superior has ploughed over £20 million back into the business since 2012 in order to secure its future and maintain its position as a supplier of choice. The £20 million has been used on machinery, acquiring land, factory upgrades and developing and training employees.
Tim Brown, managing director of Superior, commented: “Our company growth plan is very simple – we continue to partner with highly successful companies that are leaders in their sector and industry. By attaching ourselves to the most demanding customers, this moves the business on. If our customers grow by 10% then we need to grow with them. Re-investment of earnings in the areas we need to develop leads to improved efficiency within the business, which in turn leads to higher customer satisfaction.”
The Partnerships category, sponsored by Jonathan Lee Recruitment, recognises companies that have done the most to promote engineering and manufacturing through activities in the local community. Superior works closely with local schools and colleges, with an aim to get students of all ages interested in STEM. The company works alongside 21 schools in Dorset to promote apprenticeships – including Queen Elizabeth School, Ferndown Upper School, Poole High School, The Bourne Academy, Parkstone Grammar School and many others. Forming strong partnerships locally is integral to the success of Superior’s Academy.
Superior was up against stiff competition from a range of innovative businesses – small and large – from across the region. The company was selected by a panel of judges drawn from business leaders, industry experts and academics after impressing them with their well-structured and ambitious employee development project that has proven successful for both the company and the wider community.
Katie Bodman, head of training Academy at Superior, commented: “We are extremely proud to be recognised against so many other fantastic manufacturing companies in the South West. The EEF does such an excellent job of celebrating manufacturing in the UK and the apprentices that work within those companies. To win both awards is a huge achievement.”
With the regional title now secured, Katie Bodman, head of training Academy at Superior and Sue Byrne, quality systems manager at Superior, will give two presentations in front of the judging panel in December in order to progress to the next stage of the competition. Superior will then go on to compete for the national title at an awards gala dinner in London in January next year.
For more information about the awards visit: www.eef.org.uk/awards/.