AquaJoy wins "Export Award" at the

Journal Durham & Wearside Business Awards.

Managing Director Hugh Malone Collects the Award.

The Export Award sponsored by the UK Trade & Investment recognised companies that have generated substantial and sustained increases in export activity, the following factors were taken into consideration when judging began:

• The level of exports in relation to the size of the company.
• Products or services that have been sold without the benefit of export credits.
• The barriers that have had to be overcome.
• The degree to which products/services are new and markets non-traditional.

The Uk's leading bathlift supplier has gone from strength to strength since launching four years ago with just two staff. Now it employs 10 people, has a turnover of more than £1.5m and does business across the UK & Europe.

This Consett based company supplies innovative bathlifts to aid safe and independent bathing for disabled or elderly adults and children. AquaJoy researched the European market, talked with potential distributors then exhibited at the largest European trade fair before beginning to sell abroad and now exports account for 7% of all its sales.

It now sells to France, Austria, Czech Republic, Italy, Spain and Ireland and says that it will continue to research new markets and visit potential distributors with a view to doing business with every country in Europe.

The company says that it has managed to succeed and grow to lead a very competitive market by supplying high quality products and high quality service.

It is currently the only Bathlift supplier to sell in the Argos catalogue and has been awarded a number of high value government contracts. It has recently moved to a new headquarters, three times the size of its previous base, to cope with the growth of its business and has ambitious plans for future expansion.

The AquaJoy Team Celebrate!!

AquaJoy will now compete with the winners from Northumberland and Tyneside and Tees Valley for the overall regional prize at the grand final at Hardwick Hall on May 25th.

For further information, please contact Rebecca Graham on 01207 501 555.