Queen's award for enterprising firm (From Gazette & Herald)

Queen's award for enterprising firm

A QUEEN'S Award for Enterprise has been awarded to a small Ryedale company.

Electronics firm Zetechtics Ltd, of Kirkbymoorside, was presented with the UK's top award for business performance by the county's Lord Lieutenant, Lord Crathorne.

Only two companies from North Yorkshire received the prestigious accolade for outstanding innovation, the second being Scarborough-based McCain Foods, which was granted the award for the creation and development of McCain Home Fries.

At The Old School at Tinley Garth, Zetechtics designs and manufactures sub-sea control systems used by off-shore oil exploration companies across the globe.

To mark its landmark achievement, the company is to present a replica of the award to the town.

The company is one of the smallest ever to receive the award, which it received for the development of its Jupiter sub-sea control system, which is used at well heads on the bed of the North Sea.

Lord Crathorne, who toured the company's workshops before going to the formal presentation ceremony at the King's Head Hotel, praised the company's two pioneers, Mike Cumming and Tim Overfield, for their initiative and hard work in developing the piece of equipment, which has become a world leader in its field

He said: "Jupiter is unique in that it integrates all the hydraulic and electronic software into a single compact package rather than into separate systems."

Mr Overfield, receiving the award, said Kirkbymoorside was often ranked below the other Ryedale towns of Malton, Norton and Pickering, but it had companies which were market leaders.

"We have two aviation companies, two sub-sea engineering companies and another in investment casting, all manufacturing products to the highest quality levels in their respective industries.

"This means we have more high technology companies in Kirkbymorside than certainly in Pickering and probably Malton as well. We also have a wide range of other industries serving other markets."

Kirkbymoorside, said Mr Overfield, was a "fantastic" place in which to set up business: "We have the people, the environment, the services and the schools.

"Kirkbymoorside is by no means the poor relation of Ryedale and we should all be proud of it. We would like to encourage more businesses to see what opportunities areavailable here."

Mr Overfield added: "On a personal level, the biggest boost on receiving this award is that a small company in Kirkbynmoorside can win an internationally-prestigious award.

"We would like to encourage other companies in the town to take some time out to compete for similar awards, not just for themselves and their staff but for the community of Kirkbymoorside as well."

He added: "In this age of communication and relatively fast travel, the small penalties of our location are more than made up by the working environment and lower operating costs. Ryedale has to be one of the most attractive places to live and work in the UK."

Updated: 12:15 Wednesday, October 01, 2003