The Lord Lieutenant of Dorset visited imageHOLDERS HQ in Ferndown to present the business with the Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Export. It is an honour for imageHOLDERS to have their global business success recognised with this award.
imageHOLDERS is the only company in Dorset to be honoured with the Queen’s Award for Enterprise this year.
The Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Export recognised that imageHOLDERS was a company from humble beginnings with big ambitions, and now has offices based in the U.K. and North America.
In its 55th year, the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are the most prestigious business awards in the country, with winning businesses able to use the esteemed Queen’s Awards emblem for the next five years.
The Lord Lieutenant of Dorset and Ms. Marylin Porter, Civic and Lieutenancy Officer, were taken on a tour of the premises. The growth of the company is evident, not just from sales and revenue growing year on year, but also in the foundations of the company. The Ferndown premises has doubled in size. Extra storage was required as stock has tripled in the last two years alone in order to facilitate the number of solutions ordered, 70% of which are delivered to the US, cementing imageHOLDERS achievement in international export. This growth is mirrored by the employees, with the number of staff almost doubling in two years.
The team were honoured by the Lord Lieutenant’s words in his speech: ‘It is clear that imageHOLDERS have developed and continue to develop future-proofed products that are required and desired globally.’
Adrian Thompson, Founder of imageHOLDERS, responded in his speech, praising the hard work, passion and commitment of the team. ’30 years ago, I boarded a National Express from Northumberland with £60, I saved £9 for the journey home. I never did move home, as Dorset gave me the space and facility to begin to build what imageHOLDERS is today.’
Adrian’s vision to utilise technology in product design was ahead of its time – the technology hadn’t even been developed yet! As a result, imageHOLDERS now really is the only company in the world that can provide such a tailored and comprehensive solution to businesses around the world.
ImageHOLDERS is a passionate company, proud of its ability to reach a global market from the HQ in Dorset. Adrian emphasised ‘I travelled the world thinking the grass could be greener, but there really is no better place for me to live and work than this part of the world.’
Established in 2003, imageHOLDERS is now leading self-service kiosk innovation and technology globally. imageHOLDERS design and build complete, integrated solutions for businesses across abundant industries and sectors, to fulfil and improve user journeys.
In addition to investment in premises and staff, there has been investment in high-tech machinery. imageHOLDERS are now proud owners of a CNC machine, allowing the company to cut and modify hard materials, such as wood, plastic and metal, to tailor their products in-house, streamlining the customisation process. In addition to the CNC machine, a paint sprayer now lives on the factory floor at imageHOLDERS HQ, which is a huge asset, as the majority of customers require a bespoke finish to their self-service kiosk solutions.
“As a business, we are very honoured to be recognised with this award. imageHOLDERS was set up to provide businesses with innovation led kiosk solutions that provide real value to our customers. The award is a recognition of the team effort and culture that runs through the business’ veins to deliver to customers, wherever they are in the world, and help solve their problems.
I am very proud that a small firm in Dorset can achieve great things internationally; when you harness imagination, technology and have a great team behind you.”
Adrian Thompson, CEO, imageHOLDERS
“We couldn’t be more delighted to have the honour of receiving the Queen’s Award. This recognition is validation of the effort and dedication the whole imageHOLDERS team has contributed over the last few years, especially considering the tough challenges of the last year. The award gives us the opportunity to really increase awareness of how our products and services can benefit companies around the world and will spur us on to continue to innovate and deliver to the highest possible standards.”
Pete Thompson, Account Director, imageHOLDERS
www.imageholders.com