JCB scoops top prize at best of British industry awards

JCB has been named as the overall winner in the first-ever Best of British Industry Awards staged to honour the cream of the country’s industrial companies.

JCB – the world’s 4th largest manufacturer of construction equipment – was unveiled as the Industrial Company of the Year at the ceremony in London. Earlier in the evening JCB also collected the Industry Exporter of the Year Award.

In their citation, the judges at the first-ever Best of British Awards said: “It’s a tough job, comparing the disparate achievements of category winners. But one winner of winners stood out. While acutely commercial, it has retained and promulgated its values, which date back to its origins, and has treated its employees and customers with respect.

“A success at home and abroad, it goes from strength to strength, constantly stretching itself to achieve more. Its leaders are inspiring and its people dedicated. It is an example of what the UK can achieve. The Winner of Winners, the Industrial Company of the Year, is JCB”

A JCB spokesman said: “We are delighted to have been recognised as the overall winner the Best of British Industry Awards. It’s a great honour for all the people we employ to manufacture and sell our machines.”

The awards were presented at a special ceremony at the Turbine Hall at Tate Modern, London, hosted by comedian Rory McGrath, and attended by top figures from the business community.

Samir Brikho, chief executive of AMEC, the engineering and support services company that organised the awards in association with The Sunday Times and The Work Foundation, the research and consultancy organisation, said: “The Best of British Industry Awards were created to make a point – that industrial companies in Britain are dynamic and thriving. I am thrilled that the awards have made that point so forcefully. They have showcased industry moving forward with confidence in its future on the global business stage.”