Shropshire Business Awards: Telford-based Reconomy promises further growth after taking title

The Telford company landed the top honour, the Company of the Year Award, at Friday's Shropshire Business Awards, a huge ceremony at Telford's International Centre attended by more than 650 people.

Managing director Paul Cox called the award "overwhelming", adding: "We have had year-on-year success, we always knew we belong as a strong player in the Shropshire community.

"We have 250 people locally and that's 250 families that mean the world to us.

"It's about resilience, and innovation changing the industry as much as being able to change. We are on a roll."

The company, which turns over about £110 million a year and has plans to increase that to £200 million by the turn of the decade, came out on top in a tightly-contested category also including Mark Drayton logistics giant Culina, transport specialist Dale Brothers in Telford and another Telford business, road safety management firm TTC Group.

Mr Cox said: "Off the back of the recession we restructured and rebuilt. We went on the front foot and outperformed year on year.

"It's about having the right team the right people around you to punch through any negativity, any downturns.

"It's about nurturing the best out of people, investing in the team.

"We have an organic and acquisitional plan, and will continue on that path of organic growth and when the right opportunities are out there we will take them."

Another big winner on the night was Whitchurch-based equine breeding company Stallion AI Service, which took home two gongs – The International Trade through Export Award and the Technology, Enterprise and Innovation Award.

Founder Tullis Matson said: "We have put so much effort into this business, invested £1.5 million.

"The innovation and research and development that's going into this business is to make it the best in the world. You have got to be thinking outside the box and trying to find different ways to push the business forward."