Local businesses were honoured for their enterprise, inward investment, innovation and contribution to the community and environment in the fourth annual Knowsley Economic Forum Enterprise Awards.

Eight businesses throughout the borough picked up their awards at the glitzy ceremony at the Mayor of Knowsley’s 4th Annual Charity Evening, held at Knowsley’s Council’s Huyton Suite to celebrate the diversity, vibrancy and high level of entrepreneurs in the borough.

The winner of the Best Overall Company in Knowsley award went to engineering company Primary Fluid Power Ltd, which has been based in Knowsley for 30 years and employs more than 100 people. They have designed and manufactured several innovative systems including a unique rolling bridge located in Paddington and a Dutch River Swing Bridge at Goole, East Yorkshire.

The bridge has a contemporary design, created by Thomas Heatherwick, who dreamed up the unusual structure that stands in the waterside regeneration area of west London, but it was Primary Fluid Power Ltd’s team of engineers who developed the technology of hydraulic rams and electronic controls to make the £250,000 bridge unfold with elegance.

Stephen Merrie, Primary Fluid Powers Managing Director, said: “Winning this award is fantastic recognition to our talented management and highly qualified workforce. It was a welcome surprise to even be nominated. This is a very positive experience for the company because being nominated and winning reflects that local businesses, and support groups including Knowsley Council have an understanding of the challenges and achievements of this company.”

Cllr Graham Morgan, Knowsley Council’s Regeneration and Neighbourhoods Cabinet Member, said: “Knowsley is committed to inward investment and enterprise and this event is a fantastic way of recognising businesses and what they do for the borough. It is thanks to successful local businesses that we have reduced unemployment from 22% to 4% - the largest decrease of any local authority in Great Britain over the past 20 years. We are also proud to be one of only five authorities in the country to be highly commended in the recent Enterprising Britain Awards.”

Professor Tom Cannon presented all the winning and highly commended businesses with their awards. The night was enjoyed by all and raised more than £2,000 for the Mayor’s charity.

• The company has evolved from seven engineering operations located throughout the UK, which were transferred to one profitable location at Knowsley Business Park.

• This has secured 25 existing local jobs and created 70 full time engineering and production skilled jobs.

• The company has a structured apprenticeship and engineering training program to continue investment in engineering to ensure future sustainable growth and higher profitability.

• They have recently been awarded the ‘most outstanding environmental design and architecture’ for their work on the Paddington rolling bridge project.

• They were also awarded the ‘Alan Sugar’ award for the North West from Enterprise magazine for the best use of asset finance for their management buyout deal.

• They are a major employer in Knowsley with 1800 staff.

• They undertake valuable work with the community and charitable organisations

• They are planning a major expansion for warehouses, offices and distribution in the future.

• A non-profit company providing a community transport service.

• They provided all transport for the Disability Games recently and assisted people who were being transported by the private sector to give them greater respect.

• They are also working with Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service on a behavioural programme aimed at young people.

• They provide an affordable leisure and recreational facility for the local community.

• They have created sustainable jobs for local people.

• They are a training provider for clients with special needs

• They are planning to work with the wooden furniture recycling project and will be teaching disadvantaged young people to use waste wood to make and refurbish furniture which will then be sold in Knowsley.

• They are cash handling and currency security specialists formed in 2005.

• They supply the likes of Selfridges, Chester Racecourse, Harrods and ASDA with devices that detect counterfeit currency at the point of sale.

• Their major achievement has been to introduce better systems within Merseyside Police Money Laundering Division.

• This Graphic Design business was established in May earlier this year.

• Orders have been flooding in resulting from satisfied customer recommendations.

• Caroline Merrie manages to balance her demanding business with raising six children and is looking to branch out into other areas.

• This company is building on its success of ‘Best new business’ in 2004.

• The company recognises its staff as its major asset and has gained IIP status and ISO9001.

• Since opening they have become a well established reputable force in telecommunications service industry doubling there turnover, increasing staff and expanding in Scotland.

• They have worked in Knowsley for 15 years as one of the borough’s principal civil engineering contractors carrying out highway maintenance and improvement work.

• Based in the borough, they employ local labour, local subcontractors and local suppliers wherever possible.

• Currently employing five people they provide debt collection, tracing and legal services

• They have invested in technology such as progressive dialler, a text centre/court service.

• They have attracted large scale development to Halewood after researching and developing a new six speed gear box.

• They have also worked on a knowledge transfer project with Liverpool John Moores University and Merseyside Automotive Group to support small business going through change and implementing business improvements.

• They are currently introducing an NVQ programme for the whole workforce.

• They created a new product GENIUS, which is a range of cookers that have a combined energy sources to cook faster with better results.

• GENIUS, was researched, developed and built in Prescot and has won a number of industry awards.

• Lauren of Ruffwood School played a key role in ‘Ruff Gemz’ a school based business developed from an enterprise project.

• She developed and implemented creative ability, communication skills and teamwork and was paramount to the businesses success by selling their products at Kirkby market and parents evenings at the school.

• Established a business producing media works which will highlight and address social and cultural issues in the Knowsley.

• 008 made their first film a documentary about the Second World War prisoner of war camp in Huyton. It focuses on the memories of people involved and those living in Huyton.

• Mike is now working on a screen play and hopes to use local actors and writers to develop this.