Lancashire businesses pick up King’s Awards

Lancashire businesses have been recognised by being given the King's Awards.

The King’s Awards for Enterprise are for outstanding achievement by UK businesses in the categories of:

• innovation
• international trade
• sustainable development
• promoting opportunity through social mobility

Hurst Green Plastics, a proud family-owned business based in Whalley,  is delighted to announce that it has been honoured with the prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise in the category of Innovation.

This national accolade recognises the company's sustained commitment to innovation through its development of TwinBin Live, a cutting-edge inventory management system.

Used across multiple global industries, TwinBin Live represents a major breakthrough in the real-time tracking and management of high-value, safety-critical components.

Founded with a focus on plastic dispensers for the catering and food sectors, Hurst Green Plastics pivoted after a request from a leading Aerospace company revealed major gaps in stock control systems. In response, the company created the original TwinBin — a mechanical system designed to simplify and secure component tracking.

In the past 15 years, that initial concept has evolved into TwinBin Live, a digital, data-driven solution that enables real-time, vendor-managed inventory. This innovation has had a transformative impact across not only Aerospace but also industries including automotive, rail, electronics, general engineering, and healthcare.

Tommy Sharples, managing director at Hurst Green Plastics, said: “Receiving the King’s Award is a tremendous honour and a proud moment for our entire team.

“Innovation has always been at the heart of what we do, but this recognition reflects the dedication, creativity, and determination of our staff, supply chain partners, and customers who’ve supported us every step of the way.”

The company extends heartfelt thanks to its North West-based supply chain partners for their ongoing collaboration and to its global customer base, whose evolving needs have continuously inspired new product variants and system enhancements.

Tommy said: “This recognition belongs to our people. Their hard work, passion, and belief in what we do have driven our growth from a small family operation to a globally trusted supplier.”

Neal Jones Furniture, the renowned superyacht furniture designer and manufacturer based in Lancaster, has been awarded the King’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade.

Neal Jones Furniture earned the honour through a remarkable 111 per cent increase in international revenue over a three-year period, with strong markets in Italy, the USA, the Netherlands, and Germany.

Neal Jones, owner and creative director, said: “We are deeply honoured to receive the King’s Award — a recognition of the highest order that celebrates not only our team's dedication, but also the strength of British manufacturing rooted in the North of England.

"We are proud to showcase this emblem as a symbol of excellence, craftsmanship, and passion; and display it across all our platforms including on our stand at the Monaco Yacht Show in September.”

Neal Jones Furniture is a benchmark for excellence in premium, bespoke furniture for both private residences and luxury yachts. The company collaborates with some of the world’s foremost interior and exterior designers, architects, and shipyards.

Central to its ethos is a commitment to British craftsmanship. All pieces are manufactured in the UK, within the company’s in-house workshop staffed by highly skilled master craftspeople.

Neal Jones Furniture also partners with a network of artisanal finishers to ensure each piece meets the highest standards of quality. This localised production model not only supports the UK’s skilled trades and domestic supply chains, but also contributes to lowering environmental impact, maintaining control over material sourcing and overall product excellence.

As Neal Jones Furniture continues to elevate standards in luxury furniture design, this Royal recognition affirms its position at the forefront of international trade.

Meanwhile, Nelson-based wastewater monitoring specialists Detectronic was recognised with a prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise.  

Employing 136 people, Detectronic was founded in 2007 and is now part of the Adler and Allan Group who deliver ESG in action to organisations to reduce pollution, transition energy and address the effects of climate change. Through this partnership, the company works to prevent flooding, reduce pollution and improve rivers and bathing water.

Neil Butler, managing director of Detectronic said: “It goes without saying that the entire team here is delighted to win such a prestigious award.

"The product that has achieved this accolade - the LIDoTT Smart Solution,  is an advanced, cost-effective system that monitors and manages sewer networks with unparalleled precision.

"Widely deployed in sewer level monitoring programmes, it helps water companies prevent pollution events through continuous monitoring and early detection.

 “It took our technical specialists several years to research, develop and perfect, and it represents a significant milestone in the field of wastewater monitoring. The LIDoTT Smart Solution enables water companies to measure the wastewater in sewers with millimetre accuracy.

"This ultimately allows them to predict what will happen within the sewer network so they can deal with any issues before they occur so they can prevent pollutions and flooding which is beneficial for us all in terms of the long-term environmental impact of the water industry.”

Cheese Matters, Lancashire’s premier cheese export company has been awarded The Kings Award for International Trade.

This is the second time the company has achieved a royal award, after only seven years in existence.

David Orchard, managing director, said: "The last three years has been an absolute roller coaster of growth, on top of phenomenal growth in our first four years of existence."

The tight team of export specialists, led by Orchard now have an enviable record of growth around the world, and have many local cheese producers as valuable suppliers.

John Carr, founder, said “ I can go round supermarkets in the USA, the Netherlands, France, Australia and even Saudi Arabia and see Lancashire cheese we have sold looking in tip top condition on shelf and that’s the most gratifying part of this work”

The King’s Awards for Enterprise, previously known as The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, were renamed in 2023 to reflect His Majesty The King’s desire to continue the legacy of HM Queen Elizabeth II’s by recognising outstanding UK businesses.