DEAN and Sallie Attwell, the co-founders of Redditch family business Oakland International, attended a champagne reception at Buckingham Palace for the winners of The Queens Awards for Enterprise 2017.
Accompanied by Dean’s parents Michael and Susan Attwell, the reception was hosted by Her Majesty The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, with other members of the Royal family.
the guests were representatives of more than 150 companies from around the UK selected for outstanding achievements in innovation, international trade, sustainable development or promoting opportunity through social mobility.
Oakland International received two Queen’s Awards, for International Trade and for Sustainable Development.
Mr Attwell, the chief executive Oaklands said: “We were thrilled to be confirmed as a Queen’s Award winner and delighted to be one of only five businesses in the UK to be double award winners.
“Receiving these awards is a huge honour made possible by the fantastic teams we have working in our businesses and the supplier/customer partnerships which we enjoy here in the UK, Ireland and across Europe.”
The Sustainable Development Award acknowledged Oakland’s working practices and ten year strategy to become the first carbon-neutral business within their sector, as well as their commitment to building strong communities through their children’s charity the Oakland Foundation, which supports locally disadvantaged young people in Redditch, Bromsgrove and the surrounding area.
The Queen’s Award for International Trade for Outstanding Short Term Growth was awarded to Oakland for their support of overseas customers entering the UK market, doubling overseas sales growth and for their strategy and new market research.
Announced on the Queen’s 91st birthday in April, there were 176 winning businesses recognised this year.
