Queens Award for Enterprise 2010
On 15th July at its headquarters in Witham, Essex, Crittall Windows was officially presented with the Queen's Award for Enterprise 2010 by the Queen's representative, The Lord Lieutenant of Essex. This special day was attended by the company's entire workforce, local MPs and over 100 VIP special guests.
Members of the Crittall family who attended the event included: Ariel Crittall, wife of John Crittall, who was managing director from 1950 until the mid '70s; Laura Russell and husband, daughter and son-in-law of Ariel and John Crittall; and the Hon. Mrs K Richardson, daughter of Sir Valentine Crittall (Lord Braintree), owner during the 1930s until 1950.
Crittall Windows received the award in recognition of its export achievements in the notoriously difficult American market where the Essex-based company has seen the value of its sales increase significantly over recent years. Crittall is now the second largest supplier of steel windows in the United States, having re-built its entire distribution network there in just six years.
"We feel proud and honoured to be recognised by the Queen's Award for our work and success in the US market," said Crittall's managing director, John Pyatt. "America can be seen as one of the hardest markets in which to compete, and this accolade is the culmination of Crittall's long history showing how a professionally managed private company with an excellent product, a strong brand and an enthusiastic workforce can take on the Americans at their own game."
The company dates back to 1849, and in 2004 Crittall Windows underwent a management buyout led by Mr Pyatt. At this point, its distribution network in the States disappeared and the company had to begin again from scratch.
Three-years later, Crittall Windows moved from its factory in Braintree to new state-of-the-art premises in Witham, Essex. Despite the upheaval, and now the recession, the company has gone from strength to strength.
On both sides of the Atlantic, its products are being specified in high quality public and private sector buildings. These include the US 'Ivy League' universities of Princeton and Yale, the prestigious 300 Central Park West apartment block in New York, the University of Sussex, Grade 2-listed Lichfield Court flats in Richmond-upon-Thames, and the restored Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. The firm is especially strong in the heritage market in both countries.
In order to win a Queen's Award, companies also have to demonstrate high quality business practices in employee relations, environmental policy, health and safety matters, and its relationship with the local community. In all of these matters, Crittall Windows has scored very highly. Its workforce of around 200 is drawn from its local area and one in 10 employees have been with the firm for more than 40 years.
"This is in effect an award for excellence in how we have gone about our business," said Mr Pyatt.
The following week, Alan Pickess, a member of our Packing Department, joined Managing Director, John Pyatt at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace, where they were presented to the Queen
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