Neil Ginger and Victoria Brocklesby, founders of Origin, have been jointly shortlisted in the Family Business Entrepreneur of the Year category at the NatWest Great Entrepreneur Awards 2017.
The prestigious national awards, now in their fifth year, champion British entrepreneurs and their stories, from creating jobs to inspiring innovation. Founders and business leaders of the companies’ shortlisted act as agents for positive change within the UK, revolutionising the way people live and work.
Neil Ginger, CEO at Origin, commented: “We set up Origin in 2002 when we spotted an opportunity in the UK market for high quality aluminium bi-folding doors. Since then, we have not looked back. Our goal has always been to manufacture top quality products, offer unrivalled lead times and a gold-standard of service to our partners. Being shortlisted for this award is recognition for all of the hard work that goes on at Origin, not just by us, but by the whole Origin family.”
Statistics show that two thirds of UK businesses are family owned, and generate more than a quarter of the UK’s gross domestic product market. That means that with 4.7 million businesses in the UK being run by families, the competition for Family Business Entrepreneur of the Year has never been greater.
Victoria Brocklesby, COO at Origin, said: “When we first set out on our Origin adventure, we were one family, working together, to achieve excellence. This is still true today. We work hard to ensure it stays at our very core, no matter how much we grow. As people, and as an organisation, we are passionate about what we do, embracing change and opportunity with enthusiasm. It is fantastic to be one of this year’s finalists, as the award recognises all of the hard work that got us to this point.”
The judges, who include Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones, The Black Farmer; Toni Mascolo, CEO at Toni&Guy; and Helena Hills, CEO TrueStart Coffee, were impressed by Neil and Victoria’s inventive approach to manufacturing. By helping its partners increase customer service levels and product knowledge, the company fuels its own business growth. This, coupled with the immense importance they both place on having a ‘family feel’ right across the organisation, helped their entry stand out above the rest.
The judges were also particularly impressed with the ‘Your Lead Time, Not Ours’ delivery promise. Pioneered by Neil, Origin partners can specify when they want their bespoke products delivered, with the Origin Bi-fold Door available in just 24 hours.
Origin representatives will now join other finalists and sponsors at the Great Entrepreneur Awards, held at the Lancaster London on November 21st, 2017. Competing against Origin for Family Business Entrepreneur of the Year Award are ribot, New Skills Academy, Sassy Bloom and Dandi Patch.
Neil concludes: “Our vision for Origin was simple, manufacture top quality products with uncompromising levels of service. This is something we have done from day one, and we have grown exponentially based on it. As we grow, and innovate, we stay true to our roots and the family values that have taken us so far already. We are thrilled to be finalists, and we hope that we go one step further on Awards night and bring the title home with us.”
For further information, visit: www.origin-global.com
