Best Black Country businesses recognised in chamber awards

Over four hundred attendees including the region’s brightest entrepreneurs and representatives from the Black Country’s best businesses gathered at a glittering awards ceremony held at The Halls in Wolverhampton on Thursday, November 21.

Civil
and ground engineering contractor Forkers, based in West Bromwich,
was crowned business of the year with judges citing Forkers’ exceptional revenue growth and
profitability, commitment to continuous improvement, high rates of
staff retention and forward-looking sustainability strategies.

With
14 trophies presented in total, other winners included
Wombourne-based creative marketing agency TP Squared, who won the
consultancy and professional services award along with small business
of the year.

Wolves
Foundation won business in the community for the second year running,
EXOL Lubricants from Wednesbury won the international trade award,
fastener supplier Fabory took home the science, tech, and innovation
trophy and Bilston-based manufacturer of equipment for the metal
forming and tubes industry Bowers & Jones landed the
manufacturing and engineering award.

Chamber
CEO Sarah Moorhouse said: “A huge congratulations to all of our
winners following a fantastic evening celebrating the incredible,
ground-breaking businesses of our region. The awards were a great
opportunity to shine a spotlight on the region as a great place to do
business. Thank you to our partners and the Chamber team for making
this year’s awards a resounding success.”

Events
& projects officer Marie Shuker added: “We received a huge
number of entries from across a wide range of sectors. Our category
partners had a tough job selecting the winners which demonstrates the
level of business excellence across the Black Country.”

The
awards, the biggest and best celebration in the region’s business
calendar, have been staged by the Black Country Chamber of Commerce
since 2001 to celebrate the accomplishments of regional firms and
business stars. The 2024 winners were:

• Business
  in the community, in partnership with Halesowen College Winner:
  Wolves Foundation Finalists: Arrive Alive and Cadent Gas

• Employer
  of the year, in partnership with Wolves Foundation Winner: Maped
  Helix Highly commended: Jerroms Finalist: Black Country Living
  Museum

• International
  trade, in partnership with KMB Shipping Group Winner:
  EXOL
  Lubricants Highly commended: Bowers & Jones Finalist:
  Fortress

• Manufacturing
  and engineering, in partnership with CK Winner:
  Bowers
  & Jones Finalist: Jordhan
  Industries

• Consultancy and professional services, in partnership with GTG Group Winner: TP Squared Highly commended: VOiD Applications Finalist: Jerroms

• Science,
  technology and innovation, in partnership with Forresters Winner:
  Fabory Highly
  commended: Cadent Gas Finalist: Tomato Energy

• Young
  employee or apprentice of the year, in partnership with Sandwell
  College Winner: Haris
  Hussain, Weatherite Finalists: Matthew Randle, Dreamland, and
  Georgia Hill, Early Years Company.

• Small
  business of the year, in partnership with 6 Wands Winner: TP
  Squared Highly commended: VOID Applications Finalist: MoRServ

• Start
  up of the year, in partnership with Daniel Scott Recruitment Winner:
  Maverick Mutts Highly commended: iBiotech Finalist: Virtus

• Family
  business of the year, in partnership with Azets Winner: Maverick
  Sports Highly commended: Walsh Funerals & Memorials Finalist:
  Nickolls & Perks

• Business
  in schools award, in partnership with University of
  Wolverhampton Winner: Tecman Highly
  commended: HMB Training Services Finalist: BlackRook Academy

• Not
  for profit organisation Winner: Black
  Country Women’s Aid Highly commended: The Way Youth
  Zone Finalist: The Penny Post Group

• Apprentice
  employer of the year in partnership with Lloyds BankWinner:
  Interclass Finalist:
  The Penny Post Group

• Business
  of the year Winner: Forkers Highly commended: Bowers &
  JonesFinalist: Azets

Sandwell Council and Walsall Council were this year’s overall award partners. Wolverhampton TV and radio sports broadcaster Amber Sandhu from Wolverhampton hosted the event and a raffle was held to raise funds for the Black Country Chamber of Commerce’s charity of the year, YMCA Black Country.