An inkling for success
Scottish Secretary visits one of the recipients of this year's Queen's Awards.
Queen’s Awards winners are a fine example of the excellence that Scotland has to offer the rest of the world, the Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael has said as he visited one of this year’s successful businesses.
Livingston based Paragon Inks (Holdings) Ltd manufactures inks and coatings for packaging and product decoration. Last month they were one of ten Scottish business who won a Queen’s Award for Enterprise. Winners can use the Queen’s Award Emblem in advertising, marketing and on packaging for a period of five years, as a symbol of their quality and success.
From their sole manufacturing site in Livingston, Paragon Inks have expanded into places such as Czech Republic, Scandinavia, Vietnam, South Africa, Kenya and Australia.
During his visit today Mr Carmichael met the owners, visited their laboratory and production facilities and heard more about their establishment of new business over the past year.
The Secretary of State said:
Through the Queens Awards it is great that Scottish companies have been recognised for their outstanding efforts both at home and across the globe.
I was pleased to visit one such winner today. Paragon Inks are a company proud of its West Lothian roots and a fine example of the manufacturing excellence that Scotland has to offer the rest of the world.
The UK Government is helping promote Scottish excellence across the globe. UKTI has a presence in over 100 markets and last year helped nearly 2,000 Scottish businesses trade with other countries.
Managing Director of Paragon Inks, Shaun Bennett said:
I’m absolutely delighted and proud that Paragon Inks has achieved such a high accolade in the Queens Award for Enterprise, massive thanks has to go out to our staff, customers & suppliers.
The Queen’s Awards are a programme for British businesses and other organizations who excel at international trade, innovation or sustainable development. It is the highest official UK awards for British businesses. Paragon Inks won its Queen’s Award for International Trade for their outstanding overseas sales growth.