Historic manufacturers and diversity champions, Shelforce, have been crowned the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) Business of the Year. Shelforce were presented the award, sponsored by SCC, during the Chamber’s second online awards ceremony.
PVCu window and door manufacturers, Shelforce, claimed two awards on the night, taking home the Excellence for People Development award and also being crowned as the overall Business of the Year.
Shelforce was founded in 1839 and has spent 150 years establishing a reputation for providing high quality PVCu and aluminium products to local authority and building projects, such as those for Birmingham City Council.
At the heart of their manufacturing services is a genuine commitment to inclusivity and supporting disabled people in their entry to employment- a commitment entrenched in the company’s history. Originally set up as a workplace for the visually impaired as part of the Royal School for the Blind, Shelforce have carried forward their mission to change the perception of disability within the workplace.
The company currently employ 75 per cent of their workforce with a disability and intend to build on partnerships with educational institutions such as Oscott Manor School, a community school catering to children with autism, in order to educate the city’s youth into becoming valued employees.
Steve Allen, president of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, said: “I am delighted to announce Shelforce as this year’s Business of the Year and the overall winner of the GBCC awards.
“Shelforce have shown excellence in many of this year’s categories, not only in their service to manufacturing and sustainability but also through their investment in staff development and the wider issue of diversity and inclusion. Shelforce are an outstanding example of what it means to do good business and we are glad to recognise them as such after a year of such adversity.”
The event was sponsored by Birmingham City University and Inspired Energy, with Birmingham City Council also providing support as a headline partner. The awards were live-streamed from Chamber House in Edgbaston and hosted by BBC News presenter and reporter, Amy Cole. The event also saw entertainment from international recording artist and song writer, Namywa.
The not-for-profit social enterprise, Gro-Organic, works with socially and economically disadvantaged communities across the Midlands. Gro- Organic have worked diligently to provide safe, practical support to more than 3,000 young people and vulnerable adults in the last three years, as well as catering to a surge in demand for their services during the pandemic.