A Feltham-based company celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2014 was named business of the year at a gala awards evening in Brentford yesterday (Thursday).
Russell Finex was founded in 1934 as a small family-run business and these days is recognised as a world leader in the supply of filtering technology which is used in the manufacture of everything from chocolate bars to life-saving medicines.
In its eight decades of existence it has expanded to create offices in USA, Belgium and India as well as sales centres in Spain, France, Germany, Sweden and China. More than 200 people are employed, many of them at the at the Feltham HQ in Browells Lane.
It was a good night for the company as it was earlier named exporter of the year - a title created specifically to recognise the prevalence of exporting companies based across Hounslow borough.
It was the second year for the awards which were organised again by Hounslow Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Hounslow Highways.
The gala dinner took place at Brentford Lock's Holiday Inn, in Commerce Road, and MC on the night was noted TalkSport radio personality James Whale.
Three main speeches took place before the presentations as Stephen Fry, CEO of Hounslow Chamber; Rob Gillespie, service director for Hounslow Highways; and Councillor Steve Curran, leader of Hounslow Council, all took the opportunity to state how important business is to Hounslow.
Mr Fry revealed there were currently 18,000 firms based in Hounslow and that his group existed to serve every single one of them and to lobby politicians and other authorities on the issues which directly affect how they do business.
He said: "We are their voice, we try to understand how they work and allow them to operate freely and without distraction.
"Hounslow has more business start-ups than almost any other part of the UK. It is full of bright young things who take an idea and turn it into a business.
"It is no exaggeration to say we are completely dependent on Heathrow Airport and the supply chain it provides.
"We are using that to send a trade mission to India before the end of the year and to Poland in 2015.
"We had a record number of nominations this year; OK it's only the second year we've held the awards, but we got more than last year so it's a record!"
Last year's inaugural awards had been won by the Chiswick-based My Plumber.
Ray Singh, the MD of Russelll Finex, was delighted to scoop a double award and revealed his wife, Avtar, had skipped her own birthday party to come and support him on the night.
The boss, who spent 35 years working his way up from graduate level, said: "I'm not often lost for words, but today I am.
"This award is for all our staff in recognition of the hard work they do and even though we have grown so much over the years the family feeling of the business remains strong.
"My door is always open to everyone from managers-in-waiting to the people who do the cleaning."
For more on the company see - http://www.russellfinex.com/en/news-and-events/hounslow-business-awards-winner-2014/
The full list of winners were:
CATEGORY WINNERS
BEST SME BUSINESS
Winner: Online Support
Highly Commended: Wild about Roofs. Commended: BuyENERGYonline. Other finalists: Russell Finex, Top Hat Cleaners, CLS, EBB Courier, JSI Logistics, WSL Ltd
BEST BUSINESS FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE (sponsored by Hounslow Highways)
Winner: Chiswick Park Enjoy-Work
Highly Commended: Magenta Security. Commended: Parker Car Services. Other finalists:BuyENERGYonline; Order2genie.com; Traditional Paving & Property Maintenance; Alfa Energy; Asprey Richmond; Kia Beauty; SAB; Suzanne Hendrick Recuritment
ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR
Winner: Dr Amit Sra (Jaguar Energy Drink)
Commended: Abbey Petkar (Magenta Security). Other finalists: Roozbeh Rasoul (Genie Delivery Ltd), Suzanne Hendrick (Suzanne Hendrick Recruitment)
COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY (sponsored by Fusion Lifestyle)
Winner: Integrated Neurological Services
Highly commended: Chiswick Park Enjoy-Work. Commended: out&about magazine. Other finalists:Kia Beauty/Ishkama; out &about Magazine; Back Heathrow
BEST NEW BUSINESS
Winner: Wild about Roofs
Highly commended: JSI Logistics, Suzanne Hendrick Recruitment. Other finalists: Stubbings Accountancy and Bookkeeping Services Ltd; Chiswick JJ; Crystal Dream by Davia; Order2genie.com
BEST BUSINESS FOR TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT
Winner: Mixed Freight Services
Highly commended: Magenta Security. Commended: JSI Logistics. Other finalists: WSL Ltd
BEST GREEN BUSINESS
Winner: Ormiston Wire
Other finalist: Wild About Roofs
BEST BUSINESS FOR HOSPITALITY & LEISURE
Winner: iBurbia Studios
Other finalist: BHI Homes
EXPORTER OF THE YEAR
Winner: Russell Finex
BEST BUSINESS FOR MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA:
Winner: Wild about Roofs Ltd
Highly commended: WSL
