PPI Engineering receive the Queens Award for International Trade from the Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk

15th September 2009

Norwich based Engineering company PPI Engineering officially received their Queens Award for International Trade today, at a ceremony hosted by the Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk.

The event took place at The Norfolk Club on Upper King Street, and guests included Councillor Evelyn Collishaw, Lord Mayor of Norwich, Professor Tim O'Riordan, Sheriff of Norwich, Mrs Shelagh Gurney, Chairman of Norfolk County Council, and Brian Iles, Norfolk County Council Cabinet member for Economic Development, as well as representatives from several Norfolk based companies who are currently going through the Queens Awards application process for 2010.

PPI Engineering designs, specifies, and provides site support for large rotating electrical machinery, and wanted to expand trading into overseas markets. They participated in UK Trade and Investment business support programmes ‘Passport to Export’, and the ‘Overseas Market Introduction Service’, which are delivered in the East by East of England International (EEI), to develop relationships and understand markets in the Middle East and South America. So far, the company has traded directly with businesses in China, USA, UAE, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Tanzania and Gabon amongst many others.

The Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk presented Dr Mike Robinson, Managing Director of PPI with the award. On handing it over, he said: “The Queens Award is the most prestigious award for business performance and recognises and rewards outstanding achievement by UK companies. They are given to whole organisations, from the newest recruit to the Director. My congratulations to everyone employed at PPI Engineering.”

On receiving the award, Dr Robinson said: “PPI Engineering is thrilled to have received this prestigious award which recognises the hard work and commitment of everyone in the company. The support we received from East of England International through the UKTI programmes was invaluable to us. It enabled us to plan our entry into the new markets with confidence.”

David Riches, Chief Executive of EEI added: “We are delighted to be here celebrating PPI Engineering’s success, which is very well deserved. We are happy that EEI were able to support PPI with their expansion into foreign markets and they are a shining example of how trading overseas can help grow a business.”

At the event John Rimmer, International Trade Advisor for EEI also launched the new ‘Norfolk Exporters Club’.

For further information about East of England International call 0845 641 9955 or visit www.eei-online.com.

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