Aico retains Company of the Year accolade in triple Chamber of Commerce Awards win

The Shropshire Chamber of Commerce Business Awards recognise successful businesses in the county. This year, Aico was shortlisted for a record-breaking six awards and won three, becoming the first company in the awards’ 22-year history to retain the Company of the Year Award and only the third to win the top award more than once.

The previous iteration of the Shropshire Chamber of Commerce Business Awards was necessarily conducted on a virtual basis due to the pandemic. This time around, though, Aico representatives were invited to the stage to collect the company’s previous title and also take home the accolade for 2022.

Aico’s victories on the night began with Samuel Marston, the company’s product development executive, who won the Young Business Person of the Year Award in what was a particularly strong category. Marston, who joined Aico as a Level 3 Infrastructure Technician Apprentice aged just 18 has since flourished, earning an EDA Gold Circle before being promoted to his present full-time role.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Seeking continuous improvement, Marston is now working on his Level 4 manufacturing engineering apprenticeship. He also takes a keen interest in Aico’s Corporate Social Responsibility Programme, dubbed ‘Aico in the Community’, through supporting local education in his role as a STEM ambassador.

‘Aico in the Community’ is designed to support both local and national educational and charitable organisations in building sustainable futures for their communities.

Speaking about the Young Business Person of the Year Award, Marston observed: “I’m honoured to have been awarded the Young Business Person of the Year Award. Many thanks to all of my Aico colleagues for supporting me. Well done to everyone else who was shortlisted in my category. There was some really tough competition this year.”

Focus on sustainability

The Sustainability Award at the Shropshire Chamber of Commerce Business Awards celebrates companies that have ‘gone the extra mile’ to lower their carbon footprint. Aico has pledged to reach its Net Zero goal by 2030 and is always looking for innovative ways in which to cut its carbon footprint.

The business has not only made huge progress in cutting product waste over the years, but has also massively extended its photovoltaic system, added ten new EV charging points at headquarters. The process of changing the entire company fleet of vehicles to hybrid/electric vehicles is nearing completion.

Aico’s managing director Neal Hooper commented: “What an honour it is to become Company of the Year for the second time in a row. We are a strong company of good people living our values on a day-to-day basis. I’m delighted for all of my colleagues. Thank You to the Shropshire Chamber of Commerce for an amazing evening of celebration. Well done to Samuel and all of our winners for their tremendous achievements.”

Business Charity Awards 2022

Willowdene Rehabilitation and Aico have won the Community Impact Award at the Business Charity Awards 2022 in recognition of how their partnership has delivered social value within the community.

Taking place at the London Marriot Hotel on Grosvenor Square, the Business Charity Awards recognised and rewarded this partnership between corporate and not-for-profit organisations.

The Community Impact Award itself focuses on the vital support an organisation provides to a charitable project within its local community that delivers on social change.

Dr Matt Home, director of Willowdene Rehabilitation, commented: “Willowdene Rehabilitation and Aico have been working together for four years now and it’s great that this combined work has received national recognition. It’s a tremendous honour to receive the Community Impact Award.”

Home added: “Aico’s continued support enables us to offer life-changing opportunities for some of the most vulnerable people in our society.”

Pioneering facility

Willowdene Rehabilitation is a pioneering rehabilitation facility in West Mercia, which works with males and females facing complex issues and challenges them to achieve lasting and positive transformation.

Aico first partnered with Willowdene Rehabilitation back in 2019 and offers support in a variety of ways, among them volunteering opportunities for colleagues, marketing support and sponsorship of Willowdene Rehabilitation’s Family Assessment Centre. These initiatives have enabled Willowdene to extend its support to more individuals and families.

Through the partnership, Aico and Willowdene Rehabilitation have established a meaningful working relationship, identifying what support is most needed to assist the latter in providing its essential services.

Jane Pritchard, community liaison at Aico, explained: “It was a lovely evening with Matt Home and his team at the Business Charity Awards. We are so proud to win the Community Impact Award. This accolade recognises the amazing work Willowdene Rehabilitation does and also celebrates our partnership. It’s an honour to work alongside such a great organisation.”

*Further information on Aico’s journey to Net Zero is available online at www.aico.co.uk/sustainability

**To find out more about ‘Aico in the Community’ visit www.aico.co.uk/in-the-community

***Additional detail concerning Willowdene Rehabilitation can be accessed at www.willowdenefarm.org.uk/