BEST NEW MANUFACTURING BUSINESS
AWARDS 2023
SPONSORED BY IMPERIAL RECRUITMENT GROUP
FINALIST
ACCESS INSULATION & COATINGS ( AIC )
Thomas Horner – director and co-founder of Middlesbrough-based Ocean Raw – accepted the trophy for Best New Manufacturing Business from Anthony Antoniou ( left ), director of category sponsor Imperial Recruitment Group .
WINNER
OCEAN RAW
“ We just want the best for your pets ,” says raw dog food manufacturer and Manufacturing category award-winner Ocean Raw .
A “ flabbergasted ” Thomas Horner – director and co-founder of the Middlesbrough-based company – said : “ I ’ ve never even been nominated for anything like this !
“ Going into this business and winning such an award – it ’ s been a learning curve and we ’ ve come such a long way in a year .”
Spawning from a family-run steel fabrication business specialising in the building of steel fishing boats and trawlers , Ocean Raw came to fruition thanks to an incentive to reduce the number of fish going to waste .
Thomas recalls that his previous dog , the beloved Skye , had a diet consisting mainly of raw oily fish they ’ d caught over the pandemic , resulting in her fantastic coat – a subject of fascination for many .
He said : “ When we put Tilly , our labrador , on raw dog food , she wouldn ’ t eat any of the mainstream raw dog foods unless they had oily fish in them – something no manufacturers were making – so we thought , ‘ Let ’ s give this a go ’ and that ’ s where we are now . “ We ’ re using products that would have probably gone to waste otherwise .” In addition to reducing food waste , environmentally conscious Ocean Raw has made its packaging fully recyclable to reduce waste even further .
Ocean Raw also has a commitment to the local area , stimulating and elevating the local economy through job creation and the support of local farms – all in less than a year .
“ All our ingredients and raw meats we source are from local farms in North Yorkshire and all the fish is local – what we ’ ve caught from our own boats ! It ’ s all local fresh produce and we can show where it ’ s come from ,” added Thomas .
SPONSOR MESSAGE
Anthony Antoniou , director , Imperial Recruitment Group , said : “ It was an honour to sponsor such a strong category . Thomas has brought to the North- East a very exciting manufacturing business and it was great to see the efforts of his business rewarded with such a well-recognised award .”
A leader in industrial services and manufacturing , Middlesbrough-based AIC excels in providing thermal insulation , IRATAaccredited rope access services , crafting bespoke thermal insulation jackets and more .
There ’ s a dedication to helping organisations reduce energy consumption , bolstering efficiency and conserving energy for productivity . Its thermal audits identify poorly insulated areas , leading to the creation of tailored insulation solutions that are not only cost-effective but also environmentally responsible .
And it isn ’ t just about business growth – it ’ s about shaping a sustainable future , creating job opportunities within the local community and exemplifying corporate responsibility by reducing energy footprints and fostering a skilled workforce .
FINALIST
CAKES N SHAKES
Initially established as a local dessert retailer , Stockton-based Cakes N Shakes has grown rapidly , opening more locations across Teesside and providing the region with its sugar fix thanks to its vast range of products .
Dissatisfied with the supply chain innovation , business owner Sophia Sultan acquired the skills to craft traditional gelato like an Italian artisan master , leading to Cakes N Shakes ’ commercial success .
Thanks to Sophia ’ s drive , ambition and a spoonful of enthusiasm , the implemented expansion strategy has taken Cakes N Shakes into the world of manufacturing and it has since become a leading gelato supplier in the UK , with future aims to begin exporting products globally .
The voice of business in the Tees region | 73