Executives from the Harris Pye Group, the global maritime, offshore oil and gas and associated onshore industrial engineering company, will gather at The Royal Opera House in London on Thursday 6 September for The Private Business Awards 2012 where they have been shortlisted, with three other companies, in the Exporter of the Year category, sponsored by HSBC Bank plc.
The Private Business Awards, comprising 10 awards in all, are sponsored by PwC, in association with HSBC Private Bank, and in support of LEAP. LEAP is a registered charity that transforms the lives of young people and jobless adults by helping them overcome their circumstances to fulfil their potential and to play a fuller role in society.
As Ruby Parmar, Senior Partner, Private Businesses Practice PwC explains: “Private businesses are all too often seen as less glamorous than listed companies, so it’s great for us to be able to support the Private Business Awards and help showcase the businesses that are the foundation of the British economy.”
“Naturally we are delighted to have been shortlisted in the Exporter of the Year category, ” says Harris Pye Group Managing Director, Mark Prendergast. “Over 90% of our business is tied up with exporting – exporting our expertise, our manufacturing ability and our talented teams around the globe, indeed we have traded in over 25 countries in the period in question, including Norway, Belgium, Spain, France, Burma, Bahrain, Kuwait, India, Australia and Argentina to name but a few.
“We know that the winner of the Exporter of the Year award will be a company that has built a strong and growing presence in overseas markets around the world. The company will not only be able to demonstrate current year success, but will also have credible development plans in place to expand its sales in existing overseas markets as well as new ones. The higher the percentage of turnover that is exported, the better will be the chances of success in this category.
“And that in reaching their decision, the judges will pay particular regard to the following: export potential, winning market proposition, three year exporting growth measures (CAGR), we believe we do indeed tick all the boxes. We wait 6 September with a degree of nervous excitement, but proud, come what may, that we have been shortlisted.”
He adds: “We are particularly glad that LEAP is involved with, and benefits from, the Awards, for we do a great deal to encourage young people from a wide range of backgrounds at home and overseas – we have our own welding academy within our Barry (South Wales) headquarters, sponsor undergraduates and have a graduate training programme too.
“Also, in 2012 we became the first UK company to work with the Brazilian government and Swansea University (Wales) to facilitate the placement of Brazilian students in Wales. Through the Brazilian Government’s ‘Science Without Borders’ initiative, we are training and placing Brazilian students on 3-month placements in our bases throughout the world, so that they have the best possible hands-on training.
“Young people are the lifeblood of our growing business which has seen our turnover as a whole treble since 2007, and by almost 50% in the last financial year (2010 to 2011).”
Further information on Harris Pye is at www.harrispye.com and on the awards at www.privatebusinessawards.co.uk
About Harris Pye
• The Harris Pye Group is a rapidly expanding global player with active involvement in many key maritime, offshore oil & gas and associated onshore industrial sectors. Operating worldwide on a 24/7 basis, the Group’s emphasis is on cost effective repair, preventative maintenance and conversion work.
• Staff strength within the Group has grown from 10 in 1976 to 1, 200 in their United Kingdom head office facility (at Barry in South Wales) and main stations in Sharjah and Singapore; and offices and repair facilities in Australia, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Brazil, China, Dubai, Japan, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Scandinavia.
• The Group philosophy is to provide a global service with a focus on supplying top quality products and fast and efficient customer service. Further information at www.harrispye.com
