Jubilee Clips has come first in the Manufacturing category of the prestigious Medway Business Awards. Jubilee Clips reports that it is particularly pleased as this was the first time the company had entered the event. The 30th outing of the awards was presented by BBC news reader Rob Smith at a gala dinner held at Gillingham Football Club at the end of 2014 and was attended by local businesses and dignitaries. Medway is the largest conurbation South of London in the UK with over 260,000 inhabitants and an economy driven by manufacturing, with the sector contributing a third to the area’s GDP. The judges consider a range of factors in determining the winners, and although Jubilee has a rich history, having been based in Medway for 93 years, it was the present and the future that particularly impressed the panel. Targeted export growth in recent years and the wide spread of export markets, proving that Jubilee Clips is a global player, caught the attention of the judges with 12 per cent growth to European markets in 2014 and 20 per cent growth to markets further afield. Ongoing investment The judges were also inspired by the ongoing investment in technology and the in-house machine building programme, increasing automation and keeping the business at the cutting edge of technology and efficiency. Of high importance to the judges was the Jubilee apprentice scheme, which proactively recruits and trains the next generation of engineers. It wasn’t just the judges who were impressed by the Jubilee Apprenticeship scheme; one of the attendees, MP for Gillingham and Rainham, Rehman Chisti, was so impressed that he arranged a visit to the factory himself. He then shared his experience in a Commons discussion on Business Innovation and Skills congratulating, “businesses such as Jubilee Clips on providing excellent engineering apprenticeships”, a point supported by the Minister for Skills and Equalities, Nick Boles, “Businesses such as [Jubilee Clips] are leading this country into recovery and ensuring that that benefits everyone,” he said. Jubilee Clips’ managing director, Ian Jennings, commented: “Obviously, recognition of our efforts and achievements such as this is very rewarding, not just for Jubilee Clips but also our suppliers and customers – and to receive a mention in Parliament was pleasing too.” He continued: “The award is a credit to the whole team and a by-product of the hard work that happens here every day and that will continue to happen here every day.”