Harrison Spinks has received two prestigious Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, bringing the total number won by the company to four. The bed-maker is one of just eight companies to win more than one award this year and the only organisation from Yorkshire and the Humber to receive two awards in 2018.
The Beeston-based luxury bed maker was awarded a Queen’s Award for Innovation and one for International Trade in the 2018 awards announced on 21 April. It previously received Queen’s Awards for Innovation and Sustainable Development in 2013. The company believes it is the only bed-maker to receive two Queen’s Awards for Enterprise on two occasions.
Simon Spinks, Managing Director of Harrison Spinks said:
“To be granted two more Queen’s Awards for Enterprise is a huge honour and reflects the hard work and dedication of the whole Harrison Spinks team.
“As a proud British manufacturer we’re pleased that our place in the international market has been acknowledged by the Queen’s Award for International Trade. We feel that our British values of innovation and quality have set us up for success in a global marketplace.
“Since the company was established in 1840, we have always strived to innovate and go about our business in a slightly different way, whether that be creating new ways to manufacture springs or cultivating our farm so we can grow our own natural fillings. We’re delighted to be recognised by the most prestigious enterprise awards in the UK.”
How The Awards Were Won
The 2018 Queen’s Award for Innovation was granted in recognition of Harrison Spinks’ development of novel manufacturing processes for sprung mattresses. Mattress comfort is improved as spring concentration increases, however, technical issues across the bed-making sector have meant that spring density is limited by the gauge of wire used. The company has solved a whole series of problems to reduce the diameter of wire used by 30 per cent to 0.7mm. Working in partnership with British Steel, a unique grade of steel has been developed, along with a refined drawing process to create the required wire. Harrison Spinks has also developed patented spring making machines that work at five times the speed of traditional machinery. Lightweight, high-density springs have delivered market advantages and opened new markets for the company, such as car seats, running shoes and office chairs.
The Queen’s Award for International Trade for Outstanding Short Term Growth in Overseas Sales was granted to Harrison Spinks following a 296 per cent increase in exports. Internationally, Harrison Spinks trades in over 50 countries with joint ventures in USA and China, meaning it has a larger market opportunity and is closer to the market than it would be through a typical distributor model. Now overseas sales make up 25 per cent of the company’s total sales.
The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are awarded to businesses for outstanding achievement in four categories: International Trade, Innovation, Sustainable Development and also for Promoting Opportunity. This year 237 awards were granted across the four categories, 26 of which were awarded to companies from Yorkshire and the Humber.
Harrison Spinks employs 600 people in Leeds and all of its products are made in Yorkshire.
More information about the company is available at www.harrisonspinks.co.uk
