Prestigious award for sustainability
Fabweld Steel Products (FSP), a leading Midlands manufacturer, has formally received the King’s Award for Sustainable Development, one of the UK’s highest business honours.
The award was presented to managing director Wayne Carter and chairman Richard Hilton by the Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire, Anna Turner, at a ceremony held at the firm’s Telford headquarters.
The event was attended by civic and business leaders including David Sidaway, chief executive of Telford & Wrekin Council, former Marches LEP chair Mandy Thorn and members of the Invest Telford team.
Driving down emissions
Mr Carter described the accolade as a proud moment for the business and recognition of its investment in clean technologies. “We have been on a significant sustainability journey in recent years with substantial investments in solar energy and the installation of specialist equipment to generate nitrogen on site,” he said.
He added: “We will continue to do everything we can to drive down our emissions and carbon footprint, and work with our supply chain to ensure that everything we do is as sustainable as possible. This award is a reflection of the commitment of each and every one of us at Fabweld to do the right thing for the business, for our local community and for the planet.”
Commitment recognised nationally
The Lord Lieutenant praised the company for its achievement, noting the rigorous scrutiny involved in securing the award. “They’re extremely difficult to come by, and to have a company like Fabweld, that’s doing so extremely well, it’s really brilliant,” she said.
FSP is one of 197 organisations across the UK to be recognised with a King’s Award for Enterprise this year. Established in 1998, the company designs and manufactures access covers and fabricated steel products for the construction, water, energy and security industries.
Community-focused initiatives
Fabweld has introduced a range of initiatives to cut emissions and benefit the local community. In 2022, it installed solar panels, later sharing the financial savings by awarding every employee a £500 bonus to support household energy bills. Producing nitrogen on site has also removed the need for tanker deliveries, reducing carbon emissions further.
Electric vehicle chargers have been installed at its Telford base, offered at one of the cheapest local rates. The company is also a leading member of the Telford Sustainability and Energy Cluster. It has pledged to halve emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050.
The King’s Award highlights Fabweld’s reputation as a forward-thinking manufacturer combining industrial expertise with long-term environmental responsibility.
