Helen Tonks receives MBE for contributions to business and exports

05 September, 2024

Helen Tonks was awarded the MBE for services to business and to exports. The honour reflects Helen’s tireless promotion of, and support for, small and mid-size businesses, and for the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Helen Tonks commented: “I’m absolutely overwhelmed. What an honour, literally, to receive this recognition for my services to business and export! I’m not sure that the news will ever truly sink in, but I was thrilled to learn when I learned that was receiving an MBE. Whilst the recognition is personal, it is also testament to the hard work and dedication of the Hydraulics Online team and all that we have collectively achieved over the last 20 years. Hydraulics Online is seen as an exemplar to others and has given me a real platform to pay it forward to the wider business and educational community, regionally and nationally. It is a complete privilege to be honoured for doing something that I love – supporting others in business and those still in education by drawing on my own experiences as an entrepreneur.”

Alsager-based business Hydraulics Online was founded by husband-and-wife team, Mark and Helen Tonks, in 2004. The couple has grown the business steadily, thanks to its entirely customer-centric approach and strong online presence. The business serves customers in more than 130 countries and since 2019 Helen has been recognised as a Department for Business and Trade Export Champion on behalf of Hydraulics Online. Holding ISO 9001 quality management accreditation since 2014, the business has established a reputation for excellent customer service, on-point engineering consulting and advice and tenacity in sourcing hard-to-find parts or suitable high-quality equivalents.

Since 2017, Hydraulics Online has been recognised for more than twenty awards, including, most recently, the coveted Customer Commitment (Business-to-Business) Award at the Institute of Customer Service’s national Customer Satisfaction Awards in March this year 

Helen Tonks is award-winning in her own right, joining the list of Northern Power Women in 2022. Helen’s work to support local businesses to thrive, grow and export includes working with the Department of Business and Trade and attending Ministerial Roundtables. She shares business advice with students at the universities of Manchester Metropolitan University and Leeds University Business School and supports local businesses through her work as a Be the Business Ambassador and her own business consultancy, InspiresMe Consulting Ltd. Both Helen and Mark Tonks undertake a range of activities nationally and in the local community to inspire the next generation of engineers and small business owners.

Helen Tonks added: “Britain’s 5.6 million small businesses play a leading role in job creation in the UK. Together, we employ some 16.3 million people across Britain, accounting for threefifths of the employment and around half of turnover in the UK private sector. I’m passionate about helping my fellow small business owners – and, as a result, the UK economy – to thrive. This passion has driven so much of my involvement with local education providers, national business groups and local business support services. It has been a wild ride at times, but it’s always been an absolutely privilege to ‘pay it forward’ in this way.”

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