Winners: Ellis, Nature’s Laboratory

Finalist: Paragon Creative

DOUBLE award winners were announced for the Dare to Export award, with Ellis and Nature’s Laboratory sharing the 2014 title.

The judges said they faced a dilemma in this category as they were presented with two exceptional businesses, both demonstrating bold moves to capture overseas trade in new markets, but at different ends of the scale.

While Nature’s Laboratory is a small family run operation with nine members of staff, who are two years into their exporting adventure, Ellis has established a worldwide reputation with a team of 66 staff.

However, despite their differences in size, judges felt both businesses were undoubtedly deserving of recognition for their financial and operational achievements in export.

Richard Shaw, managing director of Ellis, which manufactures cable cleats for construction projects across the globe from its headquarters in Rillington, said: “From a national point of view exporting is so important, so it’s fantastic to have awards like this publicising and celebrating export.

“We are delighted to have won, and congratulations to Nature’s Laboratory, too.

“To anyone exporting, my advice is keep it up, look to the long-term, don’t worry too much about short term results, then look back in three years and see the progress.”

Collecting the award for Whitby-based Nature’s Laboratory was Cecily Fearnley, who runs the business with brother Hugo, who was on a trade mission to Japan on the night of the awards.

The business, which manufactures and distributes natural health products in the UK and abroad, has been a finalist in the Dare to Export category in two previous years.

Cecily said: “It’s third time lucky for us! Daring to export really was the case for us. When we first started exporting the financial cost of it meant if it didn’t work it would have crippled the business.

“Being recognised for this award really means a lot. We are very excited and pleased that those steps we made into exporting are now paying off.”