Knutsford-based manufacturing firm Oliver Valves has won the Manchester Evening News Business of the Year award, scooping the £25m to £50m turnover category
The firm, which designs and manufactures high performance valves for the world’s biggest oil and gas firms, picked up the award last night during a ceremony at the Hilton Manchester Deansgate, hosted by BBC broadcaster John Humphrys.
Michael Oliver, chairman and founder of Oliver Valves said: “I am proud of what we have achieved at Oliver Valves in the 30 years since the business was founded.
“Through hard work, perseverance and innovation, we have grown from a very small local operation to a global business trusted as a supplier to the biggest names in the oil and gas industry.
“I think the judges recognised this achievement, especially during a period that has been tough for British manufacturing.
“I am confident that the highly talented and committed team at Oliver Valves will ensure the next 30 years are just as successful as the last.”
Helen Ridge of Pinsent Masons – one of the judges of the awards – said: “Oliver Valves is a very worthy winner of the £25m to £50m category.”
“Throughout the selection process the passionate and visionary leadership of Michael Oliver – who founded the business 30 years ago – shone through, with the judges particularly impressed by the company’s strategic growth and expansion into a large number of international markets. An innovative engineering business which has grown strongly over the last ten years, Oliver Valves is an excellent example of a strong and ambitious business head quartered in the North West which has a very bright future ahead of it.”
This is the second major award for the firm in 2010 – in June, Michael Oliver was named Manufacturing Entrepreneur of the Year at the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.