Ward win at National Awards!

We were delighted to see so many of our Midlands Family Business Awards winners take the opportunity to showcase their family business on the national stage. There can only be one to take the Midlands & Central crown and after taking the Family Business of the Year Award last November, Ward have taken victory nationally too.

Specialists in metal recycling and waste management, Ward is a fourth generation family business operating from six UK sites. Established over 70 years ago they are nearing a £150 million turnover and are the largest independent metal and waste recycling company in the East Midlands.

The Family Business of the Year Awards, organised by Family Business United, celebrate the vital contribution that family businesses of all sizes play in the UK economy.  Innovation, investment, passion and pride are evident in family businesses across the UK confirming that the family business has much to celebrate.  

With around 5 million family firms in the UK providing around 12 million jobs and generating a significant contribution to GDP, these national awards certainly help to put the family business sector on the map and give them the recognition they deserve.  

Paul Andrews, Founder and Managing Director of Family Business United explained: “Ward are worthy winners and as a family firm for four generations remains innovative and ambitious with a reach not just in their region but across the UK."

"A business, like many other family firms across the UK that was built on hard work, hard work that has paid off as the firm is being recognised at many levels.  This 400 strong family firm celebrates the fact that 10%  of the permanent workforce are family members and they have seven other families working for them too!”

“Ward get family and with turnover having increased over 40% in the past 5 years they get business too,” continues Paul. 

Donald Ward, Commercial Manager and family member added that “Being named as the Family Business of the Year is a fantastic achievement and a true celebration of the phenomenal hard work of the team here at Ward.”

“To be recognised as the best family business on a national platform is an incredible achievement and a very proud moment for our family.  Over the last 70 years we have built up the business from a single site at Swadlincote with a handful of staff to six sites across the East Midlands and East Lincolnshire employing over 400 people. We are immensely proud of our achievements to date that have culminated in winning this award.”

As Paul concludes, "It’s a privilege to organise these awards and to find out more about the fantastic people behind the family firms that are the backbone of the UK economy.  Ward is one such firm - a great family business, a great family business ambassador for the recycling and waste management sector and worthy recipients of the Midlands & Central Family Business of the Year Award 2019."