A company that makes innovative industrial safety footwear used around the world has stepped up to win an award as a family business.
Rock Fall UK, based on Wimsey Way at Alfreton, won the title of Best Small Family Business at the Midlands Family Business Awards.
The company can trace its roots back to when Stephen Noon started selling general footwear from a small garage in Ripley in 1987, though 10 years later it switched to specialising in safety footwear.
Today it supplies an extensive range of styles to workers internationally across all industries, including specialist ranges for use on offshore oil rigs, in cold stores, forestry, construction, utilities, electronics and telecoms industries.
Rock Fall now employs 19 people and sells in excess of 500,000 pairs of shoes and boots annually, and in June recorded its best ever sales.
Thirty firms were entered for the category of Best Small Family Business and Rock Fall topped five other companies in the final to take the award at a prestigious ceremony at the Athena conference and banqueting venue in Leicester last night(Thursday, November 12).
Stephens sons Richard and Matthew, who run the day-to-day operations, and operations manager Debbie Slack put their best feet forward to receive the award at the event, the first time Rock Fall had entered for the accolade.
This is the first time in 18 years of providing safety footwear that the company has entered and won an award, and we are delighted, said sales director Richard.
This is a fitting tribute to the hard work of all our staff. It was awesome when the results were announced, given the high standard of entries.
Health and safety has become a much-maligned expression, so its great to receive positive recognition and publicity for a company whose core business is making innovative footwear that puts workers safety at a premium.
This is the sixth year of the awards which are run by third generation family business The Wilson Organisation, of Nottingham, which provides insurance and financial advice to firms and individuals.
They are the only independent, not-for-profit initiative that celebrate the work, achievements, innovation, growth and performance of family businesses.
A total of 44 businesses and leaders reached the final judging stage for the 10 categories.
For further information call Paul Wilson on 01773 608616 telemarketing@rockfall.co.uk
Image and article credit: Kevin Palmer Media Services