The culmination of the Family Business of the Year Awards 2023 saw Woolcool take home the titles for the Midlands & Central region and Innovation & Sustainability Family Business of the Year at a gala awards evening held at The Royal College of Physicians in Regent’s Park in London.
Organised by Family Business United, these prestigious awards are now a firm fixture in the family business calendar and celebrate the very best of British family firms from all corners of the UK. Awards are given by region, sector and nationally in recognition of qualities such as entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainability, community engagement and ultimately one family business is crowned the Supreme Champions.
As Paul Andrews, Founder and CEO of Family Business United explains, “As an organisation we champion and celebrate family-owned businesses across the UK, recognising the contribution they make in terms of employment, income generation and wealth creation as well as the impact they have on the communities in which they operate.”
“Since 2012 these awards have grown to become something really special, recognising family firms from all sectors, young and multi-generational family firms alike, large and small but all sharing the same underlying values, pride and passion for what they do and a strong desire to do business the right way. Each of the winners is a great business with a strong narrative and is a great ambassador for the broader family business community too.”
Woolcool is a pioneering packaging company. Woolcool® was launched in 2008 and the innovative, sustainable design has scooped an impressive haul of awards in the packaging, business, and environmental arenas. Woolcool® remains the leading packaging company using a range of sheeps wool insulated packaging available on an international scale.
Colleen Gostick, partner at Buckles who sponsored the Midlands & Central award adds that “The Midlands is awash with some amazing family firms, but Woolcool is a deserving winner and a great ambassador for the region, and the family business community. They are a credible business, steeped in innovation and authenticity and a desire to make a broader impact through the work that they do.”
“The business is underpinned by their core values, Belief, Honesty, Responsibility, Innovation, Empathy and Legacy and whilst recognising their heritage have their eyes firmly on the future under the leadership of the next generation. This is a business that is simply outstanding in what they do and the way that they do it,” adds Colleen.
As Laura Hayward, Head of Family Business at Evelyn Partners who sponsored the Innovation and Sustainability award confirms: “The judges were impressed with the clear and impressive sustainability credentials presented by Woolcool and the continual innovation within the business. This is not their first award for innovation and sustainability and is unlikely to be their last. They are world class in what they do and the way that they do it. They care. They invest. They are making a difference.”
Angela Morris, CEO who collected the awards added: “As a second-generation family business founded on ecological principles, we are so proud to have been recognised as the Midlands & Central Region and Innovation & Sustainability Family Business of the Year. Now, after two decades of serious academic research and design innovation using sustainable natural materials, these prestigious awards acknowledge both the pioneering position we took many years ago and the results we have achieved since.”
As Paul concludes, “Family businesses are the engine room of the UK economy, and these awards celebrate their contribution. It was great to bring the family business community back together in person to recognise the incredible family firms that operate throughout the UK and to crown some fantastic winners.”
“Congratulations to Woolcool on winning these awards. It is fantastic recognition of what they do as a business, and it was a pleasure to present them with the award during a fantastic evening that once more put the family business sector on the map.”