Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year: 1st Access UK Sponsored by Higgs & Sons

1st Access directors Jason Loydon and Vikki Lindop, received the award from Andy Ball of sponsors Higgs & Sons.

"We feel ecstatic – it is a great achievement to have won this award. We are over the moon," said Jason.

"I really didn't think we would win. There were some excellent contenders up against us," added Vikki.

They put the winning of the small to medium sized business title down to having a great team.

"We are only as good as the people who work for us. We have a great team around us.

"Pretty much all our workforce are local people from Willenhall," said Jason.

Judges said the story of 1st Access was of a family firm that had grown from a brave idea thanks to the dedication, courage and initiative of its owners.

The company, which is based at The Courtyard, John Harper Street, makes, installs and services aluminium windows, roller shutters, automatic doors and industrial door products.

The 1st Access Group now includes 1st Access UK, provides national, 24/7 service and maintenance to all types of roller shutters and industrial doors; 1st Access Shopfronts, which design, manufactures and installs a range of shopfronts and 1st Architectural Aluminium, specialising in design, making and installing curtain walling and aluminium windows.

Ist Access offers its clients a full in-house design package and is able to advise them on the best products suited to them.

1st Access needed a significant site to allow growth to continue and in January 2014 the directors bought a large industrial site, previously known as Willenhall Locks. Substantial investment has since been made in the site. The development of the 33,000 sq ft site is continuing as the business expands and every element of the renovation has been done to be sympathetic to its history.

The other three finalists were BCRS Business Loans, Wolverhampton; Bond Wolfe, West Bromwich, and Commercial Express, Brierley Hill.