Armourcoat Surface Finishes: The International Trade Excellence in Innovation Award

Armourcoat Surface Finishes were shortlisted for The International Trade Excellence in Innovation Award at this year’s International Trade Awards 2012. Now entering their fifth year, the International Trade Awards, sponsored by American Express Foreign Exchange Services, are the only UK wide business awards to exclusively recognise the excellence achieved by the UK’s leading exporters and importers. Despite the challenges posed by current global economic conditions, UK companies are still competing on the International stage and the 2012 International Trade Awards celebrates these ventures and successes. Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Lord Green, who introduced last year’s gala lunch and awards, said that "exporting is ‘not just good for Britain’, but that it is ‘essential for Britain’."

Daniel Nevitt, Group Marketing Director of Armourcoat Surface Finishes, “to be short-listed for the International Trade Awards is a huge honour, and it has been a great morale boost for staff both in the UK and internationally. It’s given the team a boost at a time when such independent accolades really mean the world. We’ve put a lot of miles and hours into the development of our worldwide export business, so it’s great to be recognised in this way.”

This year’s awards were held at The Brewery on 10th December where a panel of industry experts, including Parveen Thornhill, Regional Director for UKTI London, Lesley Batchelor, Director General of the Institute of Export & International Trade, Allan Biggar, CEO Xperiamedia, Rocco Magno, General Manager FX IP at American Express Europe Limited and Michael Wilson, editor and entrepreneur, announced the winners.

Applicants were competing in four categories, the Small to Medium Sized Company of the Year Award, Excellence in Innovation Award, New Frontiers Award and Company of the Year Award.

"The standard was incredibly high, particularly for the main award where the judges were torn between some very impressive entries. There were some very difficult choices to make," said Rocco Magno.

"It is pleasing to see such a high standard across the board as it shows that there is real hope for the economy, and that there are a huge number of excellent businesses out there."