Welshpool wins big at Powys Business Awards
On a night that saw three Welshpool-based winners, Morland secured the coveted title at the annual Powys Business Awards held at The Infantry Battle School, Dering Lines, Brecon on Friday where the company also won the Technology & Innovation Award, sponsored by SudoCyber.
The Powys Business of the Year Award is sponsored by Powys County Council. Organised by Mid Wales Manufacturing Group (MWMG), the annual awards showcase the best and diversity of businesses, social enterprises and charities across Powys.
The judges were impressed by Morland’s innovation and investment in advanced technology which has transformed the company’s manufacturing capability and opened the door to new products and markets.
The investment by the company, which has 106 employees, has also improved manufacturing efficiency, increased flexibility, enhanced quality and consistency and future-proofed the business.
The highly automated ECO2 line enables Morland to manufacture wrapped-edge plasterboard panels and internally laminated doors, products previously unavailable.
The company can now also process plywood, MDF and particle board and panel thicknesses from 2mm to over 44mm, significantly increasing manufacturing flexibility.
Employees, who now have advanced automated manufacturing technology skills, made key contributions throughout the two-year project.
Responding to the award, Rachel Jones, director of corporate administration at Morland, said: “This is a real surprise to us but we are thrilled to have won this award. We are very grateful to the judges.
“As a company we are very much looking forward to the future. We invest highly in our manufacturing processes, we grow within the business with apprenticeships right through and we really like supporting our community which is important to us.
“The staff will love winning this award. It will mean a lot to them. We are really looking forward to the company continuing to grow and let’s see what 2027 brings!”
Ed Coomber, representing the judging panel, described Morland as “a worthy standard bearer for business in Powys”.
“Morland has not only excelled in its chosen award category but demonstrated excellence across all 12 areas of the judging criteria,” he said. “That breadth of achievement made a powerful impression on the panel.
“What stood out was the complete picture - the strength of its achievements today, the quality of its planning for tomorrow and its determination to keep moving forward. There is more it wants to achieve and a clear sense of how it intends to get there.”
It was a good night for Welshpool, as two other two finalists celebrated winning awards. Mid Wales Recruitment Ltdwon the Start Up Business Award, sponsored by EvaBuild and Welshpool Community Haven received the Social Enterprise or Charity Award, sponsored by another Welshpool business, WPG.
Brecon celebrated a double as Jasmine Atkinson, owner of The Hidden Jem Beauty salon, won the Sole Trader Award, sponsored by The County Times and Mains Gas Limited collected the Micro Business Award for businesses with less than 10 employees, sponsored by Myrick Training Services.
Two Newtown businesses joined in the celebrations, as Makefast Ltd won the International Trade Award, sponsored by Welsh Government and EOM Electrical Contractors Ltd secured the Business-Education Partnership Award, sponsored by Mid Wales Regional Skills Partnership.
The Judges Special Award, sponsored by MWMG, went to Machynlleth company Dulas which makes solar refrigeration and cold chain solutions, which deliver life-saving vaccines to immunise millions of children around the world.
Charcroft Electronics Limited, Llanwrtyd Wells added the Growth Award, sponsored by WR Partners, to the Business in the Community Award they won last year while Builth Wells Veterinary Practice won the Small Business Award, sponsored by 5C Services Ltd and The Serenity Reset, Knighton took home the Entrepreneurship Award, sponsored by NPTC Group of Colleges.
Runners-up were:
Sole Trader Award: Arlais Framing, Llandrindod Wells and The Serenity Reset. Start-up Business Award: Narrative Coffee, Rhayader and Vekta Limited, Llanidloes. Micro Business Award: Camlin, Welshpool and Advantage Automotive Ltd, Presteigne. Small Business Award: CDL Group, Forsiteservices Ltd, both of Newtown.
Entrepreneurship Award: Quabbs Cabin, Knighton and Mid Wales Lodges, Llandrindod Wells. International Trade Award: Airflo Fishing Products Ltd, Brecon and Dulas. Technology and Innovation Award: Cleobury Project Management Ltd, Knighton, Beacons Business Interiors Ltd, Brecon.
Social Enterprise/Charity Award: Be More Frank, Brilley, near Hay-on-Wye and Arts Connection, Llanfyllin. Business-Education Partnership Award: Redpen AI Ltd, Newtown and Cambrian Training Company, Welshpool. Growth Award: Affinity Homecare Group Ltd and CDL Group, both of Newtown.
PICTURES:
Winners celebrate with their Powys Business Awards at The Infantry Battle School, Dering Lines, Brecon.
Rachel Jones and Lisa Andrew from Morland received the Powys Business of the Year Award from Councillor Glyn Preston, Powys County Council Cabinet Member for a More Prosperous Wales, joined by Sherrie Woolf (left), from SudoCyber who sponsored the Technology & Innovation Award.
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