After a record number of entries were received, 50+ family businesses from around the Midlands were shortlisted across nine categories including Sustainability, Property & Construction Excellence, Digital & Tech Innovation, Service Excellence, Young Director and Employer of the Year, as well as Best Small Business, Fastest Growing and the much-coveted Family Business of the Year.

Ward submitted an entry in conjunction with marketing agency, Cite, for their collaboration on an innovative digital tool, The Carbon Report.

Donald Ward, Operations Director from Ward said: “We’ve been first to market with several digital innovations such as our online skip hire tool and our WARDrobe locator. This time we were looking for a way that we could share with our customers their carbon usage data, to help them identify effective waste management solutions. We teamed up with Cite to enhance the functionality of our customer portal and add a digital carbon reporting tool. This gives our customers data about carbon emissions from waste, at the touch of button, so they can make informed, sustainable decisions benefiting us all.”

Amie Masserella, Account Director at Cite, added: “We took the waste management information we were already collecting through the portal and using the methodology provided by the Government on Greenhouse Glass Reporting – Conversion factors we created an online report. The report takes into account the type of waste and whether it can be recycled or not. It also factors in the transport figures from the collection point to the Ward waste recycling centre which it has been taken. This is all at the click of a button and was achieved by our tech team doing all the calculations in the back end of the portal but presenting them online to the user in a clear and easy to understand way.”
Organised by third generation family business, The Wilson Organisation, which specialises in insurance and financial services and supported by a range of high-profile sponsors, the Midlands Family Business Awards gives family businesses of all sizes, from all sectors, the opportunity to recognised for the huge contribution they make to the region.

Charlotte Perkins, Group Managing Director of The Wilson Organisation said: “The standard of entries has been exceptionally high this year and we are so pleased that so many family businesses have taken the time to showcase their achievements. We received such strong entries in Best Small Family Business and Service Excellence categories that we’ve taken the decision to shortlist extra finalists, for the first time ever.”

The non-profit awards are made possible through a range of sponsors. Alongside MHR is family business community Family Business Futures, also created by founders Wilson’s; creative agency Stencil; Buckles Solicitors; professional services firm PwC; property maintenance business, The Handy Family Company; legal advisers Shakespeare Martineau; home care and mobility services provider, Premier Community and Streets Chartered Accountants.

The finalists in each category will meet with their judging panels during June. All Finalists are now eligible for the ‘People’s Choice’ award, sponsored by Streets Chartered Accountants, which is determined by a public vote throughout September. Winners will be revealed in an Award Ceremony on 3 October 2024 at Athena in Leicester.

The full shortlist in the Midlands Family Business Awards 2024 can be found here: https://www.familybusinessawards.co.uk/news/our-2024-finalists-revealed

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The award celebrates those who have made longstanding contributions to the metal recycling industry.  Michael, who was nominated by Donald Ward, Operations Director, was presented with his Award at the BMRA Annual Dinner at the end of 2023.

Michael has worked in the industry for the entirety of his professional career. Then known as Donald Ward, Ward Recycling was established in 1940 by Michael’s grandfather, Donald, before Michael and his brother, David, both joint Managing Directors, took it over in the 1990s, working alongside their children.

During his 50 years with the business, Michael has helped Ward grow from one site and to an award-winning multisite company with an annual turnover in excess of £300million. The firm employs over 400 people locally, efficiently manages a modern fleet of over 120 vehicles and two dockside operations for metal export. Despite the scale of Ward’s success, family remains at the heart of the business with 10% of employees being family members.

Today, with Michael stepping back and the Ward board of Directors taking the reins, Ward continues to grow from strength-to-strength with multiple divisions processing everything from scrap metal to recycled waste products. It is also committed to innovating and improving its operations through various initiatives, including The Ward Way, its sustainability road map to 2030.

As metal recycling and waste management specialists, Ward’s aim is to achieve zero to landfill wherever possible and it places great value on the importance of operating a way which is socially, environmentally, and economically resilient. It aims to deliver long-lasting social and economic development for future generations and the communities that it is a part of.

Michael Ward said: “To be recognised with this BMRA award is a huge honour. I am extremely proud of what Ward has achieved during my 50 years tenure, and am pleased that as a local business, we have played our part in supporting and growing the industry. Family is and always has been the heartbeat of the business and I am looking forward to seeing further Ward generations coming through the ranks to grow the legacy that my grandfather started all those years ago.”

Donald Ward, Operations Director at Ward said: ‘We were all incredibly proud to see Michael Ward be recognised by the BMRA with a service award for more than 50 years’ dedication to the British metal recycling sector. His achievements over this time have been truly remarkable, and his reputation within the industry is second to none. We’re looking forward to celebrating many more years of service together.”

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More than 300 business owners, leaders and advisers joined the sell-out event at Nottingham’s Crowne Plaza, for an evening recognising the achievements of regional businesses spanning all sizes and sectors.

As well as scooping the top prize for ‘Sustainability’, presented by category sponsor property specialist Spenbeck, the Ward team was also a finalist in ‘International Trade’.

The judges were impressed with Ward’s sustainability strategy and the investment it has made into innovative technologies to extend its recycling capabilities nationwide. They also acknowledged the work Ward has done in embedding sustainability into its core business culture through the implementation of the Ward Way, its Sustainability Road map to 2030.

Sam Metcalf, Midlands editor at TheBusinessDesk.com said: “This year’s shortlisted and winning companies were part of a record-breaking effort at this year’s Business Masters Awards. This year we had a record number of nominations for the Masters and a record number of shortlisted companies.

“One thing the judges remarked was the sheer strength in depth of the entries and I think this is the reason why the East Midlands continues to be one of the most economically dynamic regions outside of the south-east and the businesses and this year’s finalists play a huge part in making it that way.”

On the award win, Joanne Upton, Environment and Sustainability Manager at Ward said: “This is huge boost to the team. We’ve worked hard to embed our commitment to sustainability into the heart of our business. By 2030, Ward has pledged to eliminate its contribution to climate change with an interim science-based target to reduce emissions by 47% and we are doing this by focusing on four key interconnected areas including; Environment, Energy and Carbon, Social Value and Economy. We’re thrilled that this has been recognised by the Business Masters judges.”

On a social value and economic sustainability theme, Ward also sponsored the Community Impact award which was presented by Ward’s Business Development Director, Toby Potter, to Leicester based financial advisors, Furnley House, for its foundation supporting to help improve the lives of as many people as they can.

For a full list of winners and finalists, visit: https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/eastmidlands/news/2077664-winners-revealed-at-east-midlands-business-masters-2023

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During the ceremony, Elizabeth Fothergill CBE, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Derbyshire, presented a commemorative crystal bowl to directors Michael Ward and David Ward, alongside the rest of the Ward board.

The team also received an official Queen’s Award Grant of Appointment which was read out and presented by Tony Walker CBE DL who is the Chair of the Derbyshire QAE Honours Panel.  The High Sheriff of Derbyshire, Michael Copestake, was also in attendance for the proceedings.

Elizabeth Fothergill, CBE, said:

“Considered the most prestigious business awards in the world, this award is an outstanding achievement and huge congratulations to the Ward team. Recycling is such important work and the family ethic of Ward is impressive.

We were all immensely impressed with what the team do and achieve at Ward. It was great to see a family company operating in such an important industry passing on successfully to the fourth generation.”

Following the presentation, Toby Potter Ward’s Business Development Director, provided a tour of the metal processing site and guests enjoyed a celebratory lunch before wrapping up the very special occasion for the Ward family and the wider business.

Michael Ward, Director at Ward, said:

“Our business was established by my great grandfather over 80 years ago as a single site scrap metal dealer in Swadlincote. I’m proud to have been in the business for nearly 45 years with my brother David Ward and we have seen some significant investment and huge change in our operations.

This achievement marks a monumental day for our family and the whole Ward team who we regard as extended family. To have Ward recognised and honoured in such a prestigious way is testament to the hard work of every member of the team.

Over the three years to March 2019, thanks to significant investment in deep sea dock facilities and ongoing hard work from our dedicated teams, our overseas sales grew by 84%, a growth rate of 36% per annum. We have been able to expand our export capabilities to service customer in key export markets around the world. We have ambitious plans for our future, both at home and further afield, and we hope that this award marks the start of us realising every one of them.”

Ward was one of 225 organisations nationally honoured with its prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in 2022 earlier this year. Just seven winners were selected from Derbyshire, with four recognised for Excellence in International Trade, Ward specifically for its outstanding short-term growth in overseas sales over the last three years. 

During the summer, Michael Ward attended a special Queen’s Award reception in Buckingham Palace and met the then Prince of Wales, who was hosting on behalf of the Queen. 

The Awards are considered the most prestigious business awards in the country, with the winning businesses able to use the esteemed Queen’s Award Emblem for the next five years. 

Find out more details about Ward’s international metal recycling and waste management capabilities.

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Arena Community was established in 2006 as a local response to poverty, isolation, homelessness and unemployment in and around Ilkeston, Derbyshire and Mansfield and Nottinghamshire. Last year, the charity helped over 5,000 people through several initiatives focused on making communities liveable by providing food and practical resources, quality housing via supported accommodation, training, education and rehabilitation. 

The charity was drastically impacted by the Covid pandemic, with its shops shut and more members of the community than ever reliant on its vital support. This led to the launch of the Let’s Do This’ campaign, which aims to tackle a £60,000 shortfall in running costs by encouraging local businesses and the public to commit to monthly donations.

The awards ceremony, which took place at Arena’s The Project in Ilkeston, was held to celebrate, honour and thank all the organisations and individuals who had stepped up to support fundraising efforts to date and also to raise awareness of the existing need for ongoing support to continue its essential work in the community. 

Following an inspirational address from Kristian Thorpe, Leader Pastor and Founder of Arena Community and passionate speeches from the head of the local school and community workers from Age UK and other support organisations, Arena presented it first ever awards. 

In recognition of the firm’s support of the charity and its endeavours, Ward was awarded two honours. 

Dennis Bell, Commercial Director at Ward, was recognised with an Individual Contribution award while Ward was honoured with the Business Contribution award, collected by family member, Karen Ward, for its decade-long support of the charity. 

In addition to making monthly donations to the food bank, personally from Dennis, during its ten years of backing, Ward has helped to fund a new minibus and contributed to the sensory garden development project, amongst other important initiatives.

Dennis said:

“We are a family firm and have strong family values. To be able to help people in a vulnerable position is doing something positive for the community and we will continue to support them in any way we can.”

Lisa Harrison, Head of Arena Community, received an Outstanding Service award for her huge contribution to the charity. Having experienced many of the challenges facing the local community herself, Lisa has become an invaluable member of the organisation. As well as running the repair shop, overseeing employment schemes and project managing the major refurbishment of the Project store in Ilkeston, Lisa has also helped to generate revenue through the charity’s shops and cafes. 

Kristian Thorpe, Leader Pastor and Founder of Arena Community, said:

“Everybody is somebody at Arena. We place value on every person and will always seek to strengthen, support, hold, help and lift people up. 

The celebration event and awards was a way of us saying thank you to the people and organisations that help us to reach our goals through their generosity of funds, time, support and compassion.”

For more information on how you can get involved in supporting the vital work of the Arena Community, visit www.arenacommunity.co.uk/giving/

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A record crowd of more than 300 business leaders, owners and advisers came together at Nottingham’s Crowne Plaza, for an evening dedicated to the achievements of regional businesses doing incredible things, in challenging economic times. The Ward team was presented with ‘Family Business of the Year, for third time, as well as being a finalist in the ‘Large Business’ category. 

The judges complimented Ward’s continuous growth across all its sectors. They were impressed the firm’s commitment to sustainability and ongoing investment and innovation in improving metal recycling and waste management processes, to reduce waste to landfill.

From over 100 entries, the Masters judging panel selected the finalists in 16 different categories honouring businesses of all sizes, from all over the region. 

Sam Metcalf, Midlands editor at TheBusinessDesk.com said:

“In an extremely tough year for East Midlands businesses, all our shortlisted and winning companies tonight should be extremely proud.

The strength in depth of the region’s businesses was reflected in over 100 companies entering the awards – and a record attendance. We thank each and every one of them for their support over the last 12 months.”

On the award win, Donald Ward, Operations Director said:

“This is amazing, to win the Family Business of the Year award for the third time. We’re over the moon, congrats to everyone. We are so proud of the team for all their hard work. A great night all round.”

These latest awards come on the back of Ward recently receiving a Queen’s Award for Excellence in International Trade and being named ‘Waste Supplier of the Year’ at the UK demolition awards. 

For more information on Ward’s metal recycling and waste management capabilities visit www.ward.com.

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The prestigious awards, which received a record number of entries this year, celebrate the best of the region’s business community.

Ward’s first shortlisting is in the Family Business category, of which it has been a previous winner. This award will recognise a local firm that is thriving as a family business by using the skills of different generations while having a long-term vision for sustainable success.

The firm has also been shortlisted in the Large Business category, which will celebrate a business setting the pace with a strong success story while making a significant impact in the region.

In addition to being shortlisted for two categories, Ward is also sponsoring the Sustainability award, which will go to a business whose work is having a considerable, positive environmental impact and taking an authentic approach to sustainability.

Donald Ward, Operations Director at Ward and former Business Masters Ambassador of the Year, said: “To be shortlisted in two awards categories at this year’s Business Masters is a fantastic achievement. We have always been proud of our fourth-generation family heritage and have worked hard to grow and evolve as a business over our 80 years of operations. We’re so pleased that all of our hard work is being acknowledged in this way.

“We are equally committed to reducing our impact on the environment, which is why we were happy to step up as sponsor for the Sustainability award. Congratulations and good luck to all of the nominees on the night.”

Sam Metcalf, Midlands Editor at TheBusinessDesk.com, said: “Obviously, the pandemic created a huge number of challenges for businesses in all sectors. Many of our shortlisted companies are those that pivoted or pressed on while others paused – and the results are clear to see.
“The strength of the entries meant plenty of good businesses missed out this year, but we look forward to following their progress.

“We’re looking forward to celebrating their successes, and revealing the winners, at the awards dinner in October.”

The winners will be announced at a special Business Masters awards evening on Thursday 13th October at the Crowne Plaza in Nottingham city centre.

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Now in their fourth year, the Awards recognise the foremost national and international players in the demolition industry and celebrate the sector’s achievements both in the UK and further afield. 

The winners were announced during a special ceremony held on September 2nd at Leicester’s King Power Stadium. 

When announcing Ward’s win, the judges highlighted the firm’s commitment to processing both waste materials and scrap metal, offering a total recycling solution to the demolition sector. In addition to Ward’s comprehensive service provision, the firm’s substantial global export operation was also highly commended. 

A spokesperson from the judging panel said:

“Processing c.1,000,000 tonnes of materials annually, Ward recycles products such as metals, plastics, glass, cardboard, wood, textiles, soils, and hardcore to ensure its demolition customers fulfil their environmental regulations.

Ward has progressed over a number of years from collecting and receiving scrap from demolition projects close to its original site in Burton to operating nationwide. The business now receives enquiries from all over the UK, Europe and the Far East as a testament to its growing status as a progressive and innovative partner to demolition companies.” 

Commercial Director at Ward, David Ward Jnr, said:

“It’s an honour to receive this award and be recognised among such esteemed members of the demolition community. 

We’ve worked hard over the years to drive a significant period of growth for the firm and are proud that our efforts have paid off. We now work across a network of nationwide demolition sites to support the industry with effective waste management, and we have ambitious targets for our expanding export business. To be acknowledged as a trusted demolition industry partner in this way is incredibly humbling.”

As a part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability, Ward also sponsored the Environmental Innovation Award, which was won by family-owned and operated specialist contractor Cawarden.

For more information on our metal recycling and waste management solutions for the demolition and construction industry, visit our Special Projects.

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Fourth generation family business Ward wanted something extra special to thank the team for their efforts in achieving their recent Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade in 2022. They turned to fellow Derbyshire company Colleague Box to ensure they nailed that personal touch perfectly.

Husband and wife team Adam and Natalie Bamford launched Derby-based gifting company, Colleague Box during lockdown in May 2020, with the aim of cheering up their colleagues during the pandemic. The boxes proved such a hit that they turned the venture into a full-time business that’s growing from strength to strength.

Ward worked with Adam and Natalie to produce over 400 bespoke ‘thank you boxes’ from the Ward Board. Each one was decked out in royal red, white and blue colours and included a letter of thanks from board members, a Queen’s Award pin badge and pen and some sweet treats for staff to enjoy over the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend.

The Ward Board delivered a personal thank you to #TeamWARD for their work in achieving the Queen’s Award for Excellence in International Trade

Donald Ward, Operations Director at Ward, said:

“We’re very proud of the team’s efforts in helping us to achieve our recent accolade of the Queen’s Award for Excellence in International Trade. We wanted to thank them for their commitment and dedication to working at Ward.

We felt that a special delivery over the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations would be the perfect gesture and were keen to work with Colleague Box to support a local business in their new venture. They did a fantastic job!”

Adam Bamford, Co-Founder of Colleague Box, said:

“It’s been an absolute pleasure working with Ward to send over 400 gifts directly to colleagues’ home addresses.

Being involved in thanking employees for earning the Queens Award is a huge honour for us and is yet another use for Colleague Box that is a first but hopefully not the last.”

For more information on Colleague Box, visit www.colleaguebox.co.uk. For more information on Ward’s metal recycling export capabilities, visit www.ward.com.

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The Midlands’ largest independent metal recycling and waste management specialist has been honoured with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade.

Donald Ward Ltd, trading as Ward, is one of 225 organisations nationally to be recognised with a prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise. Announced today (Thursday 21 April), Ward has been recognised for its excellence in International Trade.

Headquartered in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, Donald Ward Limited was incorporated in December 1976, although the business commenced trading circa 1940 at Woodville in Derbyshire. A fourth generation, independently owned family business, Ward now employees close to 400 people across its sites nationwide.

The company collects and processes around a million tonnes of materials annually; recycling products such as metals, plastics, glass, cardboard, wood, textiles, soils, and hardcore to ensure its customers fulfil environmental regulations and commitments.

It aims to divert 100% of the waste it processes from landfill and uses sophisticated metal sorting equipment to extract every last scrap of metal from end-of-life vehicles, as well as other waste electronic and electrical items.

Thomas Ward, Commercial Director at Ward, has been instrumental in expanding Ward’s export capabilities

Thomas Ward, Commercial Director at Ward said:

“Winning the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade is a huge honour for the Ward team. Our core business, which represents around 80% of turnover, is the buying, selling, processing and recycling of ferrous and non-ferrous metals from a variety of sources, including end-of-life vehicles and arisings demolition projects. 

Over the three years to March 2019, thanks to significant investment in deep sea dock facilities and ongoing hard work of our dedicated teams, our overseas sales grew by 84%, a growth rate of 36% per annum. We were able to expand our export capabilities to service larger customers in Turkey, Eygypt, India and Pakistan.” 

The company wins the Queen’s Award for International Trade for Outstanding Short Term Growth in overseas sales over the last three years.

He continues:

“We are planning sustainable growth with significant future investment into our people, processes, equipment and infrastructure. We are excited about the potential opportunities that winning the Queen’s Award could bring to help us achieve our long term ambitions.”

Now in its 56th year, the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are the most prestigious business awards in the country, with winning businesses able to use the esteemed Queen’s Awards Emblem for the next five years.

Applications for Queen’s Awards for Enterprise 2023 open on the 1st May 2022. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/queens-awards-for-enterprise.

Processing and loading metals for export at Ward’s facility at Immingham

For more information about Ward’s metal recycling and export capabilities, visit: www.ward.com.

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