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2016 INNOVATION SHOWCASE FINALIST RECEIVE QUEEN’S AWARD

GJD Manufacturing Ltd received the 2017 Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade today (Tuesday 18 July).

The Heywood-based manufacturer and designer of electronic perimeter detection equipment and high-performance LED illumination security solutions was honoured with the award owing to the company’s significant growth and success in export trade over the past six years.

In a speech following the presentation of the award this morning, Mark Tibbenham, Managing Director of GJD, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for everyone at GJD, especially in this historic year as Her Majesty The Queen celebrates the sapphire anniversary of her reign.

“We feel very humbled and immensely proud to have won a Queen's Award for Enterprise in International Trade.”

Last year, the business was one of 10 local businesses shortlisted for the 2016 Venturefest Manchester Innovation Showcase competition.

Although GJD did not win the competition, they still went on to receive a range of bespoke support from Business Growth Hub, part of the Manchester Growth Company. This included helping the company to secure a £66,700 grant from the GM Export Fund, and support around the development of new-to-market products, including helping to facilitate a Knowledge Transfer Partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University to help develop technology for the company’s laser security range.

Furthermore, the business was introduced to Innovate UK, one of the Hub’s principal partners, who invited the business to enrol on their Innovate to Succeed programme for managing innovation within business. This includes an Intellectual Property Audit worth £3,000 and other strategic exercises.

On this support, Mark Tibbenham added: “GJD has gone from strength to strength. We have been quick to recognise the changing needs of the market and the importance of the latest technologies to meet those needs.

“The support we have received from the Business Growth Hub and their partners has opened new doors for GJD and been the catalyst for further growth.”

Yvonne Grady, innovation team leader at the Hub, said: “It’s been a pleasure working closely with GJD over recent years and I’m delighted to see the results of their investment in innovation and product development being recognised with the Queen's Award for Enterprise.

“We look forward to developing further long-term collaborations and access to specialist knowledge via our university base to deliver further business growth.”

Eighty-eight small and medium-sized businesses entered last year’s competition and more than £1m of funding offers have been made to participants. Entries for this year’s competition closed on Thursday 6 July. The Innovation Showcase competition shortlist will be announced at the end of July ahead of Venturefest Manchester 2017, which will be held at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall on Thursday 14 September.

For more information on Venturefest Manchester 2017 and the Innovation Showcase competition, please visit www.venturefestmanchester.com.

Venturefest Manchester 2017 and the Innovation Showcase competition are both being run by Business Growth Hub. These and other Business Growth Hub projects are part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the GM Business Growth Hub, which is designed to help ambitious SME businesses achieve growth and increase employment in Greater Manchester.

Businesses looking to access specialist support can visit www.businessgrowthhub.com for more information about the organisation’s extensive range of services.

The 2018 Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are open to applications from businesses in every sector. Companies have until 1 September to apply. Find out more at https://goo.gl/aVpgX6.

 

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