Business Action | April / May 2020

Barnstaple-based Home
Hardware was recently
presented with Britain’s Best
Housewares Wholesaler Award
for the fourth year running at
the Housewares Innovation
Awards dinner in Birmingham.
Home Hardware is Britain’s
largest dealer-owned supplier
for independently owned
hardware and DIY stores.
Financial director Sean
Davey was delighted to collect
the award on behalf of Home
Hardware, commenting: “It
is particularly satisfying that
we won again despite strong
competition from the other UK
major wholesalers.”
The awards recognise the
UK housewares industry’s finest
achievements, from exceptional
products and companies to
outstanding retailers.
Chief executive officer
Martin Elliott adds: “It’s a great
achievement and reflects the
commitment, effort and hard
work of all our staff throughout
the company, together with the
SEA Ltd has beaten competitors
from across the UK
in national manufacturing
awards run by Make UK, the
manufacturers’ organisation.
SEA was named national
winner of the Innovation
category, sponsored by HVM
Catapult. The Barnstaple-based
company, is a world-leading
supplier of electronic systems
to the defence, transport and
offshore energy sectors.
The judges commented:
“This company sought to
develop a miniaturised underwater
acoustic sensing solution,
reducing the size dramatically
so it could be deployed from
AWARD WINS
Homeware wholesaler is
best in UK for fourth year
Four in a row: (from left) stand-up comedian Tom Ward; Sean Davey,
finance director of Home Hardware and Tony Grimshaw of Whatmore Ltd
support of our suppliers and
the commitment and loyalty
from our retailers.”
In early March, Home
Hardware was able to go ahead
with its annual trade show at
Westpoint Exeter before the
full impact of Coronavirus hit.
much smaller vessels, opening
up a wider range of potential
applications in UK and export
markets. Whilst the project
overcame technical and supply
chain challenges, to deliver a
prototype as swiftly as they did
was quite remarkable.
“The company had a clear
focus on product development.
In implementing clear
objectives, the company have
improved an existing product,
expanded use and increased
turnover. It’s a fantastic
success and we encourage
other businesses to speak to
SEA and to emulate the clear
focus the organisation has put
Martin Elliott comments:
“Although the attendance from
retailers was down by around
30% due to fears over the spread
of the Coronavirus, business
was actually reasonably brisk
with retailers taking advantage
of the numerous special
into innovation.”
Steve Hill, managing
director, SEA, added: “The
work that the team have put
in to making the KraitArray a
‘best-in-class’ technology has
been phenomenal. This project
has enabled SEA to grow our
market presence in naval
sonar systems and secured
the company’s reputation
as an international supplier
of cutting-edge technology
within the maritime sector.
The KraitArray has pushed
technical boundaries and is
unrivalled by its competitors,
which is why this award is so
well-deserved.”
offers and extra trade show
discounts available from the
120 exhibitors in attendance.
It also proved to be an excellent
opportunity for several of
our suppliers to launch new
products to our retailers.
“Although it was unfortunate
the show attendance
was affected by concerns over
Covid-19, we were thankful
that we were still able to go
ahead as planned, with full
support from our suppliers as
there had been no Government
announcement at that point in
terms of any restrictions. If our
trade show had been scheduled
to be a week later, we would
probably have made the decision
to cancel it.
“We are currently trying to
trade through unprecedented
circumstances and although we
have numerous contingency
plans, we are just taking a
day at a time and working to
Government guidelines.”
■■Details 01271 337479 or
homehardware.co.uk
Manufacturer wins national innovation award
Dick Elsy CBE, chief
executive of the High Value
Manufacturing Catapult, said:
“Innovation is the beating
heart of a thriving company.
Mastering its rhythm is key
to developing great products,
achieving outstanding productivity
and putting a business
ahead of the pack. Innovators
are the drivers of opportunity.
They create robust,
sustainable growth, whatever
the economic outlook, and
deserve our recognition and
praise. SEA is a worthy winner
of the Innovation Award.”
■■Details 1271 337500 or
sea.co.uk/contact/barnstaple/
8 business action | April / May 2020 | business-action.co.uk