The South West is leading the way on exports and these Devon businesses are part of the success story.

Figures by HMRC show that South West goods exports rose by 8.8% to £20.8bn for the year ended March 2018, outstripping the national average of 6.5% growth in exports of goods across England.

And it’s even better for food and drink, where exports increased to £838m in the year to June 2018, a rise of 8.7% compared to the previous 12 months, the latest HMRC figures show.

But export isn’t just about goods - its about services as well, as the finalists for the Exeter Business Awards show.

Thanks to the sponsors of the Exeter Business Awards

Here is the shortlist in the Exporter of the Year category - these companies are taking the Devon message far and wide, to places like Korea, Kenya and across Europe.

These businesses can rightly claim their place among the top exporters in the region.

They will find out who is crowned winner on Friday June 21 at the awards ceremony being held at the Great Hall, University of Exeter.

Exporter of the Year

GRE Ltd

GRE in Willand solves challenging heating and cooling problems for prestigious customers around the world including blue chip companies and scientific institutes

 

GRE Ltd is establishing a global reputation as a thermal engineering company and it directly exports to South Korea, America, Sweden and other countries in Europe. Last year its turnover was up by 30% to £3.5million, 40% of which was direct international business. GRE specialises in the design and manufacture of customised cooling solutions and specialises in cryogenics, process cooling and ultra-pure water cooling. They are used in nuclear fusion, solar panel production, advanced technology for satellite development, and advanced radiotherapy systems for oncology. Its recent £1million South Korean project for a leading smart energy provider has has led to forward orders valued at £2million. GRE Ltd has also won a six figure contract to develop bespoke ultra-pure water cooling for Sweden’s European Spallation Source, a research facility with a vision to build and operate the most powerful pulsed neutron source ever seen.

Kineta Tea Ltd

Leane Tilley launched Kineta in 2015 - a Matcha tea company that has expanded its range to include vegan, gluten free energy snack bars winging its way to seven countries.

 

Launched in September 2016 by Leane Tilley, Kineta is an adventurous health and lifestyle brand producing Matcha Tea products including Matcha Tea Powders, Cold Brew Matcha Juice Drinks, Raw Matcha Energy Bars, Cold Brew Infusions Pods for waterbottles and a range of accessories for the matcha tea purist. Overseas sales have grown 70% year-on-year and the DiT has been integral in supporting its export endeavours.

Kineta launched in export through a series of in-market meetings directly with distributors. The products are now stocked in health food stores in  Spain, Norway, Cezch Republic, Netherlands, Belgium, France and Kenya. It is among the top 10 Matcha Tea brands sold in Europe and is the first matcha brand in Europe to offer Organic Matcha Energy bar.

Here is the full shortlist


 

Exeter Business Awards 2019: The shortlist

Employer of the Year sponsored by Exeter College

For businesses that have created a strong workplace culture and are responsive to the needs of its staff.

  • Air Marketing
  • Awcock Ward Partnership
  • Bluebird Care
  • Girling Jones Ltd
     

Apprentice Employer of the Year sponsored by Devon County Council

Businesses that have gone the extra mile to pass on vital skills and knowledge.

  • Awcock Ward Partnership
  • Devondale Electrical Wholesaler
  • LiveWest
  • Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust

 
Excellence in Customer Service

For businesses that go out of their way to make customers feel special.

  • Hillside Product Design Ltd
  • Mirror Hair Design
  • Orange Tree 


Innovative Business of the Year sponsored by Openreach

Celebrating good ideas, this is for enterprises great and small that have got big results from thinking outside the box.

  • Car Store Exeter
  • Degould Ltd
  • Good Growth  

Tourism and Hospitality Business of the Year

For the businesses that give visitors to Exeter something to write home about.

  • Cofton Holidays
  • Harry's Restaurant
  • Lloyd's Lounge
  • On The Waterfront
  • Royal Albert Memorial Museum
  • Exeter Christmas Market Bar 


Best Tech or Creative Business Award sponsored by Browne Jacobson

For pioneers in the digital world, this is for companies that demonstrate skill, creativity and innovation in the development of a unique product, service or design.

  • Degould Ltd
  • Good Growth
  • Hillside Product Design Ltd
  • Lightfoot

Exporter of the Year 

Businesses who are just as likely to have customers in California as Crediton.

  • GRE Ltd
  • Kineta Tea


Corporate Social Responsibility sponsored by Marsh Kia Exeter

The Corporate Social Responsibility award recognises that businesses have a big role to play in the wellbeing of their communities.

  • Adopstar Ltd
  • Devon Norse Ltd
  • Nexus Open Systems

 
Entrepreneur of the Year Award sponsored by Lady's Mile Holiday Park

For those who have a track record of creating successful businesses. This is for individuals in Exeter and surrounding area who has shown vision, energy, ambition and entrepreneurial flair.

  • Ben Cheriton, Pynes Hill Business Centre
  • Katie Sherjan, Hollywell Housing Trust
  • Simon Nicholls, Taurus Energy Ltd


Independent Business of the Year 

For enterprises that know their customers by their first name, have ears to the ground for community news or are a first point of call for customers in need.

  • Krispies Fish & Chips
  • Parentwise
  • The Grocer on the Green
  • The Oddfellows
  • The Roots Foundation


Best Business Start-Up 

For those businesses that have got through the tricky early stages and are starting to make giant leaps.

  • Frocks in Swing Time
  • Kineta Tea Ltd
  • Mirror Hair Design
  • Neligan Financial
  • Nourish Zero Waste


Business Growth of the Year Award sponsored by Wollens

Recognising business growth that has led to new premises this year, new products or employment.

Business under 50 employees

  • Girling Jones Ltd
  • Griffin Chartered Accountants
  • Oneserve

 

Business over 50 employees

  • Bluebird Care
  • Apex Scaffolding Exeter Ltd
  • LiveWest

Exeter’s Champion sponsored by Griffin Chartered Accountants

Who’s beating the drum for Exeter? Who has stepped out of the office chair to take on a wider leadership role to stand up for the good of  Exeter ? This award will go the individual who has made a lasting contribution to the city in the past 12 months. The recipient will be announced on awards night