Harrison Spinks leads the way in Queen's Awards

Simon Spinks, managing director of Harrison Spinks.

A luxury bedmaker which grows its mattress fillings on a farm in Yorkshire is leading this year's recipients of Queen's Awards for Enterprise after receiving two accolades.

Leeds-based Harrison Spinks is the only organisation in the region to receive two awards this year and one of eight nationally.

The firm, which employs 600 people, was awarded a Queen’s Award for Innovation for its development of novel manufacturing processes for sprung mattresses. It also recieved an award for International Trade in the 2018 awards announced today.

It previously received Queen’s Awards for Innovation and Sustainable Development in 2013. The company believes it is the only bed-maker to receive two Queen’s Awards for Enterprise on two occasions.

Managing director Simon Spinks said: “Since the company was established in 1840, we have always strived to innovate and go about our business in a slightly different way, whether that be creating new ways to manufacture springs or cultivating our farm so we can grow our own natural fillings.

“We’re delighted to be recognised by the most prestigious enterprise awards in the UK.”

The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are awarded to businesses for outstanding achievement in four categories: International Trade, Innovation, Sustainable Development and also for Promoting Opportunity. This year 237 awards were granted, 26 of which were awarded to companies in the region.

In Yorkshire, there were 15 winners of the international trade award, 10 winners of the innovation award, and one winner of the promoting opportunity award.

Business Secretary Greg Clark said: “The UK has some of the most entrepreneurial and innovative minds in the world delivering jobs, growth and greater choice for consumers and I am proud to see a wealth of these businesses being recognised today.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, supporting nearly one million jobs and revenues of £81bn in Yorkshire and the Humber. Through our Industrial Strategy we are building a Britain in which they will continue to thrive.”

YORKSHIRE RECIPIENTS:

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

A-Safe (Halifax)

Brandon Medical (Leeds)

Central Wire Industries (Rotherham)

Cast Iron Radiators (Scarborough)

Go Superfoods (Sheffield)

Harrison Spinks (Leeds)

HotHouse Partnerships (Brighouse)

Nouveau Lashes (South Elmsall)

Ossila (Sheffield)

Principle Holdings (Huddersfield)

SBD Apparel (Rotherham)

Specialist Marine Consultants (Hunmanby)

The Group Company (York)

Twinkl (Sheffield)

Wooltex (Huddersfield)

INNOVATION

Ancon (Sheffield)

BJSS (Leeds)

Environmental Defence Systems (Huddersfield)

Harrison Spinks (Leeds)

Inclusion Housing (York)

Manvers Engineering (Barnsley)

Radio Design (Shipley)

Samuel Grant (Leeds)

Smart Credit (Ilkley)

Transdek UK (Harworth)

PROMOTING OPPORTUNITY

Dale Power Solutions (Scarborough)