20 June 2011

BPIF announces 2011 Excellence Awards winners

Eclipse Colour and AJS Labels celebrated their success as BPIF Company of the Year 2011 winners at the BPIF Excellence Awards last night (15 June). As winners of the over £5m turnover and up to £5m turnover categories respectively, the two companies received their trophies at a spectacular awards ceremony held in the stunning and exotic surroundings of London’s Café de Paris, where guests were entertained by author and comedian Mark Steel, the brilliant celtic/rock band Bags of Rock, and the legendary burlesque dancers for which the venue is famous. 

Sponsored by Konica Minolta, J&G Environmental and BPIF Insurance Services (R K Harrison), The Awards were introduced by BPIF CEO Kathy Woodward, who described this year’s Finalists as “the cream of the industry”.

Eclipse were praised for their focus on ‘smart change’ that harnessed their skills and capabilities and established alliances and partnerships that provided a ‘platform for excellence’, while self-adhesive labels printer AJS Labels received the judges’ plaudits for their simple ‘back to basics approach’ to reconnect with customers and engage staff to deliver a service focussed on continual improvement.

The night also saw a double triumph for Communisis, who won both the Health and Safety (over £5m annual turnover) and the Human Resources (over £5m annual turnover) Awards. The marketing solutions provider was complimented on its ‘comprehensive risk management system’ and ‘positive employee culture’. Family-run Kingfisher Print and Design, based in Totnes, Devon won the Human Resources (up to £5m annual turnover) Award, with recognition for their engaged workforce who were ‘all pulling in the right direction’.

Excellent monitoring systems and reduced environmental impact enabled book manufacturers T J International to scoop the Environment (over £5m turnover) Award, while Hampshire-based Making Impressions won the Environment (up to £5m turnover) Award  with its ‘positive environmental culture and impressive training programme’.

The Marketing Award went to Leicester-based GI Solutions, well known for their innovative and cost-effective direct mail print, who produced ‘a winning campaign that made comprehensive use of cross-media with a clear call to action’. Park Communications’ ability ‘to offer a winning combination of the right people and effective processes linked to a true customer focus’ enabled them to lift the Customer Service trophy.

The Lean Manufacturing Award was secured by Newsprinters Broxbourne, the largest print site in the world producing over 20 million copies of The Sun, The News of the World, The Times, The Sunday Times, The Daily Telegraph and the Sunday Telegraph each week. They were described by the judges as having ‘taken the application of Lean Manufacturing to a new level which is exemplary for any industry’.
The Innovation Award was keenly fought, with two joint winners emerging: Precision Printing and Ryedale Group. Managed print services provider Precision won their award for process innovation, while family-owned Ryedale - the UK’s largest manufacturer of horticultural plant labels, point-of-sale products, and pre-paid plastic telephone cards - won theirs for product innovation.

Privately-owned brochure, journal, book and music printers Halstan & Co were the victors in the Training and Development category. They demonstrated a willingness to include a total cross section of their workforce in a major training programme, putting every aspect of their business under the microscope. Outcomes were clearly measurable not only in individual NVQ accreditations but in the adoption of the team based recommendations for change. The 2011 Apprentice of the Year was Amey Herefordshire’s, Thomas Hancock, whose versatility in learning a wide range of skills in digital printing, finishing and print administration marked him out from the other candidates as a clear winner.

Click here to view photos from the event.

THE FULL LIST OF WINNERS AND FINALISTS IS:

COMPANY OF THE YEAR

• Winner (over £5m annual turnover)
Eclipse Colour

• Winner (up to £5m annual turnover)
AJS Labels

Finalists
- Inspirepac
- Pinstripe Print Group
- Print on Demand
- Real Digital International

HEALTH AND SAFETY (OVER £5M ANNUAL TURNOVER)

• Winner
Communisis

Finalists
- AGI World
- BGP
- TJ International

ENVIRONMENT

• Winner (over £5m annual turnover)
TJ International

• Winner (up to £5m annual turnover)
Making Impressions

Finalists
- Cambrian Printers
- Communisis
- Newsprinters (Eurocentral)
- Park Communications
- Park Lane Press
- The Westdale Press Ltd

HUMAN RESOURCES

• Winner (over £5m annual turnover)
Communisis

• Winner (up to £5m annual turnover)
Kingfisher Print and Design

Finalists
- Inspirepac
- Kalamazoo Secure Solutions

MARKETING

• Winner
GI Direct

Finalists
- Jade press
- Real Digital International

LEAN MANUFACTURING

• Winner
Newsprinters (Broxbourne)

Finalists
- Eclipse Colour
- Loxleys Print Ltd

CUSTOMER SERVICE

• Winner
Park Communications

Finalists
- J & G Environmental
- Pindar plc

INNOVATION

• Joint Winners
Precision Printing
Ryedale Group

Finalists
- Innovative Output Solutions
- Lightning Source

TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

• Winner
Halstan & Co

Finalist
- Inspirepac

APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR

• Winner
Amey Herefordshire - Thomas Hancock

Finalists
- Bristol City Council - Kirsty Cox
- Limetree Offset - Joe Goff
- Wigan Council – Dominic Webster
- Wigan Council - Thomas Hurst