SERVICE BUSINESS AWARD
Sponsored by Stiller Warehousing and Distribution
THE FINALISTS
Occupational Health and Training Services managing director Linda Jones receives the Service Business award from Stiller business development manager Thomas Prentice .
‘ TEAMWORK AND FRIENDSHIP ’ KEY TO AWARD WIN , SAYS BOSS
One of the winners from Aycliffe Business Park ’ s awards ceremony has attributed “ teamwork and friendship ” as key factors in their achievement .
Occupational Health and Training Services ( OHTS ) won the Service Business of the Year category at the 2022 Make Your Mark Awards .
And when asked what to put the award down to , managing director Linda Jones proudly said : “ Teamwork – and friendship .
“ We are professional in what we do but we also care about each other , as well as looking after the businesses .
“ The business park community is great – it ’ s such a great atmosphere and people are so friendly . It ’ s great to win but we didn ’ t really care if we did or not because it ’ s wonderful to be part of it all .”
OHTS provides bespoke customer services relating to a wide range of occupational health support and guidance to clients .
The firm has recently purchased a mobile unit which is fully fitted as a clinic to offer a flexible service to clients , who range from small , medium and large manufacturing companies to education environments , individuals and chemical companies .
After the Covid outbreak , OHTS adapted by branching out into PCR Covid testing for travel purposes , which had to comply with government requirements , and saw the company setting up an agreement with a laboratory in Barnard Castle .
Looking ahead , Linda said : “ We just want to keep on looking after people , as we ’ ve always done , and each other as well .
“ It ’ s often a very difficult balance between looking after people and keeping a business profitable , which is what we try to help people to do .
“ We ’ ve also bought a mobile vehicle because we noticed a lot of places started to struggle with the space because people needed to spread out more , so they didn ’ t have the space for us to come in and do testing .”
OHTS beat off competition from Upex Electrical Distributors ( UED ) and Digital Edge to win the Service category , which was sponsored by Stiller Warehousing and Distribution .
Stiller business development manager Thomas Prentice said : “ We were very pleased to be the sponsors of the awards . I would like to thank the entrants and those shortlisted for throwing their hats into the ring for this and sharing with the judges a little about how their companies perform so well .
“ OHTS were the winners on the night . However , all were worthy finalists and should be applauded .
“ In a year of goods shortages and soaring costs , it can be too easy to lose sight of the fact that no business can thrive or survive without a compelling service offering .
“ We look forward with interest to next year ’ s awards and our participation in one form or another .”
Upex Electrical Distributors Upex Electrical Distributors ( UED ) celebrates 35 years in business this year , having been founded in 1987 by John Upex , and joined by Gary Monk 15 years ago as managing director and shareholder .
UED ’ s key customers include Gestamp , 3M , Ineos , Lidl and Finley Structures , as well as a number of SME electrical contractors in the area .
UED is proud to have played its part in the response to the Covid pandemic by supporting a number of Aycliffe key worker businesses – particularly during the first lockdown , when it remained open and kept the supply chain functioning for critical services on the business park .
UED offered access to an accelerated supply chain service during critical times when larger companies were struggling to procure at the speed and momentum required to maintain levels of manufacturing .
Digital Edge Through a merger in the last year , Digital Edge has grown from employing three staff to nine , and also recently saw its best month in terms of turnover at £ 50,000 , beating its previous record of £ 18,000 .
In the past year , Digital Edge has created an app solution for the world ’ s leading till system provider EPOS NOW , which solved a two-year problem they had with getting their systems to talk to Wix e-commerce sites .
Before the merger of Pixel Media and Infuze Group to form Digital Edge , 70 per cent of the firm ’ s work came from within a mile of Aycliffe .
But since the merger , Digital Edge is now working globally , with clients in Dubai , New Zealand , the US and Australia .
The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 27