Palletways win international trade award

Birmingham-based Palletways has been named winner of the International Logistics award by leading Midlands business publication Insider.

The Midlands International Trade Awards were founded in 2012 to celebrate the Midlands excellence in international trade and recognise the accomplishment of companies and organisations operating in this field.

The International Logistics Award recognises the logistics specialist’s impressive 15 per cent increase in turnover resulting from a strategic growth programme across Europe. The network now comprises more than 300 depots and handles nearly 30,000 pallets a day.

In 2012 the Midlands shipped some £40bm worth of goods and services overseas and the market has been rising by around six per cent every year.

Martyn Young, Managing Director of Palletways UK Member Network, commented: “The Midlands is a powerhouse for production in the UK and we have focused on strengthening connections to Europe to all local manufacturers to get their goods to new markets. This award recognises our achievements in growing our pan-European network in what has, at times, been a challenging economic backdrop”.

“I’d like to thank all our network members and other partners for their part in contributing to this success. It’s everyone’s award and we should all be very proud as we were up against some stiff competition.”

The awards gathered more than 125 companies and professionals at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel and were compered by BBC business journalist Steph McGovern. She said: “The reason that the Midlands has become the European gold standard for exports is, like most overnight successes, the result of years of hidden hard work, investment and planning by businesses in this room tonight, and thousands of others around the region. The awards, now in their second year, were held in association with UK Trade & Investment (UKTI).