Shelforce awarded The King’s Award for Enterprise in Promoting Opportunity

A Birmingham window and door manufacturer that employs some of the city’s most vulnerable people is celebrating after being recognised with The King’s Award for Enterprise in Promoting Opportunity (through social mobility).

Previous Scale-Up Award winners, Shelforce, based in Erdington, employs 30 people, of which 75% have a disability, and His Majesty The King has approved the Prime Minister’s recommendation that Shelforce be recognised for providing a place where people with a mental or physical disability can thrive in employment.

Previously named The Queen’s Award for Enterprise and established in 1965, the awards have propelled UK businesses onto the world stage with an internationally-renowned symbol of excellence. The royal recognition is even more special for Shelforce as just nine years ago it was faced with a stark choice to either become self-sustaining or close.

Howard Trotter, the company’s Business Manager, will represent Shelforce at a royal reception hosted by The King at Buckingham Palace.

Howard commented: “It is an unbelievable honour to receive the King’s Award for Enterprise in the Promoting Opportunity category. To be recognised by the highest honour in UK business, renowned across the world is an incredibly proud moment for Shelforce and we are even more incredibly honoured that we have been recognised in the first ever King’s Award for Enterprise and in the year of the King’s coronation.

“Promoting opportunity is the reason behind Shelforce’s continued success and this is fantastic recognition for our incredible team and the processes we have in place. It’s also fantastic news for the local community of Erdington.”

The award is also good news for the West Midlands. Shelforce were identified as an exemplary UK business by the West Midlands Lieutenancy and encouraged to apply for the Award as the area was underrepresented.

Shelforce is a service within Birmingham City Council that specialises in providing high-quality PVCu and aluminium products to local authority building projects and was previously named Business of the Year at the Greater Birmingham Chamber awards in 2021.

Founded in 1839, the award also comes some 40 years on from The Princess Royal, HRH Princess Anne officially opening its current factory in 1984. Now, Shelforce has got the royal seal of approval again.