Following a judging panel at the beginning of August, fifth generation family business, Colton Packaging has been shortlisted in the Investment, Sustainability and Family Business of the Year categories of the Business Masters Awards 2022.
The investment category recognises a significant commitment made by a business in the region and those who have shown a real commitment in terms of investing in facilities, people or products that will have a long-term benefit.
Over the past two years, Colton has made a series of significant investments to create a sustainable foundation for long term future growth. Investments have included a complete refurbishment of a new 55,000 square foot warehouse and office facility in Loughborough, tripling the size of its staff welfare facilities and installing a climate-controlled heating and cooling system, as well as purchasing additional material handlers.
The firm’s second shortlisting came in the Sustainability category, Colton has demonstrated strategic change and investment in its own operations with the installation of multiple Tesla batteries to reduce its reliance on the grid and equipping its warehouse with PIR LED lighting. It also supports its manufacturing customers with reducing their own environmental impacts. It has designed corrugated cardboard packaging solutions, that can themselves be recycled, to replace the need for bulky and landfilling polystyrene.
As a fifth-generation family business, also being a finalist in the Family Business of the Year category is the icing on the cake.
Colton Packaging’s Managing Director, Laura Colton-Smith explains: “This is a fantastic achievement for the Colton team. It has been a transformational couple of years for our business and our family. For over 150 years we’ve been utilising the skills of the different generations to create a long term and sustainable business. We recently celebrated our first anniversary at our new home in Loughborough and being recognised for our efforts in improving the business for our team and our customers is just brilliant.”
The 2022 East Midlands Business Masters Awards brings together business leaders and executives from across the East Midlands, the 2022 finalists alongside former winners, key partners and www.theBusinessDesk.com’s online audience to celebrate business triumphs and successes.
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. Colton Packaging stood out as business going from strength to strength. We’re looking forward to celebrating their successes, and revealing the winners, at the awards dinner in October.”
A record number of entries were received this year and the East Midlands business community will come together to celebrate the best of the region’s businesses on Thursday October 13, from 6.30pm, at the Crowne Plaza in Nottingham city centre. The full list of finalists is available here.
