Queen's Award lifts company

AWARD pride . . . from left, Daniel Ezzatvar, GGR marketing manager, Lord Leiutenant, Mr Warren Smith and sales director Michael Henneghan

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CRANE and lifting equipment manufacturer GGR Group was presented with its Queen's Award for Enterprise when Greater Manchester's Lord Lieutenant visited the firm's Chadderton base.

GGR Group was named as a recipient of the award earlier this year, alongside Saddleworth firm Inclusive Technology. It then received the trophy during a recent visit to the firm's Broadway Business Park head office by Lord Lieutenant Warren Smith. The visitor presented the award to GGR sales director Michael Heneghan and marketing manager Daniel Ezzatvar.

Queen's Awards are seen as the UK's most prestigious business awards. They are only given to companies or individuals who are outstanding in their field. Now in their 50th year, 254 Queen's Awards have been presented this year of which 150 have been for international trade.

GGR Group received an outstanding achievement award for international trade. Its business model involves purchasing products from Japan, adapting them for the European market and selling them through a network of 27 dealers across Europe and the Middle East.

The company has seen steady growth in overseas sales, which has almost doubled in the three year period of the award and accounts for 25 per of total turnover. There has been steady growth in GGR staff numbers from 95 to 115, bringing gross value added to the UK economy and net profits almost doubling in the period. The group says it wants to capitalise on its existing dealer network by expanding into Russia, South America and Africa.

Commenting on the award win, GGR Group chief executive Graeme Riley said: "We are honoured to receive such a prestigious and globally recognised award. Receiving the Queen's Award is testimony to the hard work and dedication of the staff at GGR. It reinforces our position as industry leaders and innovators in the specialist lifting market".

GGR Group is Europe's leading supplier of vacuum handling equipment, compact pick and carry cranes, UNIC mini spider cranes and restricted access lifting machinery.

The business was established in 1995 by brother and sister Graeme and Gill Riley, who now hold the posts of chief executive and managing director.

From small beginnings, the company now employs over 100 people at three UK sites in Chadderton, Long Crendon in Buckinghamshire and Blantyre in Scotland. The company also has a network of around 30 dealers across Europe and the United Arab Emirates.