Chris Holland looks at recent awards success by local companies which keep the flag flying for Bradford

IT'S encouraging to see innovative and forward-looking businesses from the Bradford district being recognised for their achievements.

Not only does it give the firms concerned and the area a boost, it can also act as a spur for other businesses to shout about their success.

The T&A's Bradford Means Business Awards for 2016 are now open for entries and we are once again looking forward to celebrating the cream of local enterprise at the ceremony in June.

The deadline for entries is Thursday March 24 and entry forms and full details can be found at: telegraphandargus.co.uk/bradfordmeansbusiness

There has been a spate of awards successes among local companies recently - some of them on the national stage.

Steeton-based Acorn Stairlifts is dripping in gongs after a plethora of recent successes at local and national level.

The firm has been named a British manufacturing champion after scooping three prestigious national business awards.

It followed up a hat-trick of regional awards in the Engineering Employers Federation Future Manufacturing Awards with similar success in the national finals.

Acorn, which has been manufacturing and installing stairlifts for more than 20 years and employs more than 800 people in the UKput of 1,400 worldwide, was crowned Winner of Winners – a title awarded to the most outstanding and inspiring company out of all the national winners.

This came after scooping gold in the outstanding export category, in recognition of its achievements exporting into more than 80 different countries.

Acorn has invested heavily in overseas markets by setting up its own subsidiaries in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Ireland, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

The company’s turnover in North America is now higher than in the UK and it is the market leader for stairlifts in the US.

Acorn was also named runner-up in the business growth category at the EEF/Aldermore Future Manufacturing Awards held at the Grand Connaught Rooms in London

This after trebling its turnover in North America from £19.5 million to £58.6 million in the past four years. During this time, its worldwide exports have more than doubled from £35.7 million to nearly £80 million .

An Acorn stairlift is installed somewhere in the world every nine minutes.

The company was recognised by a panel of judges drawn from business leaders, industry experts and academics who described the company as being truly inspirational and a great example of UK manufacturing success and growth through innovation in product, process and marketing, adding:

The judges said: “Acorn provides an inspirational story for other manufacturers and in a competitive market, the company has developed a unique and innovative product and process, which gives them quality, cost and above all, lead time advantages.”

Dave Belmont, Acorn Stairlifts, company secretary, said: “Manufacturers are amongst the most prolific and successful exporters in the UK so to not only win the outstanding export award, but also be named winner of winners, is a great accomplishment and compliment to our team.

“Acorn has spent the last 20 years focused on carefully developing stylish, easy to use and affordable stairlifts designed to meet the mobility needs of people around the world. We are passionate about all aspects of our business and this dedication and focus has paid off. We hope our success will inspire other manufacturers and encourage them to share their achievements too.”

The latest national recognition follows a year in which Acorn Stairlfts scooped a total of nine industry accolades, including the Trustmark accreditation for customer care and installation and the prestigious Made in the UK award.

It was also recognised for its support for the Manorlands Sue Ryder hospice at Oxenhope at the West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce Raising the Bar Awards.

A pioneering online learning company was given a civic reception at Bradford city hall after being named the top in its field.

The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Joanne Dodds, hosted the event for Ilkley-based Virtual College in recognition of it being named E-learning development company of the year at the international E-Learning Awards.

The company, which has just celebrated its 20th anniversary, and now employs more than 140 people, is enjoying a major surge in growth and will soon achieve two million online learners for its range of courses.

Chief executive Rod Knox, who co-founded Virtual College with chairman,Bob Gomersall, reflected at the reception on the company’s first 20 years and the support it had received from both individuals and organisations in the Bradford area.

Rod, a University of Bradford graduate, said: ” We work in a rapidly changing sector working on exciting, cutting edge projects for organisations from the NHS and Home Office to courses for schools and caterers.

“It is hugely rewarding to receive independent recognition of our contribution to the e-learning sector.

“Over the last 20 years we have worked hard to introduce online learning into the mainstream. This is now reality and we have ambitious plans to ensure we reach 20 million learners by 2020.

“I’m truly grateful to the support and foresight that Bradford Council and other key players in the district did to help us get Virtual College off the ground. It’s great to see our success being recognised, and perhaps more importantly, we’re all creating high value jobs and helping to enhance the local economy.”

At the international E-Learning Awards, Virtual College turned its four nominations into four gongs - gold for E-learning development company of the year; silver for Rod Knox in the Learning Technologies outstanding contribution category; bronze in the excellence in the production of learning content - not for profit sector category and a bronze award in the e.learning age outstanding learning organisation category.

The gold award recognised the company's position at the forefront of developing collaborative, customer-focused e-learning for organisations across the UK .

The judges said: “Virtual College captured our imagination from the outset. Their agile methodology has delivered significant results in customer satisfaction.”

Rod Knox won his award for being a pioneer in the field of e-learning with a radical, challenging approach which has made an outstanding contribution to the industry through his technical understanding and ability to discover new markets.

Virtual College’s e.learning age outstanding learning organisation award was made for its work with the Home Office in developing a comprehensive course on female genital mutilation, which affects up to an estimated 140 million women worldwide.

The course on understanding FGM and identifying ‘at risk’ girls and women has had more than 30,000 registrations in under a year, with 90 per cent of learners saying they would do something differently in their work as a result of the course.

Local Citroen dealership, Evans Halshaw Bradford, has scooped a handful of accolades in

the Pendragon Awards, which reward the achievements of its subsidiaries.

Mechanical apprentice Chris Brier beat 180 other nominees from across the UK to win the Rising Star Award, while sales administrator Nikki Peacock was a finalist in the team member of the year category. The Bradford staff were also finalists in the team of the year category. .

Ryan Smith, Bradford dealer principal, said: “To be shortlisted for one award is a fantastic achievement, so we were over the moon when we found out we had been nominated for three.

"It’s the first time that an Evans Halshaw dealership has been up for three separate categories which, again, really is something to shout about."

He paid tribute to his team, saying: “I want to extend a huge congratulations and thanks to the team. Each and every one of them has played a huge part in creating the amazing atmosphere and reputation we have here at Evans Halshaw Citroen Bradford, and we are incredibly proud to have been recognised for our hard work.”