General Building Plastics is Midlands Family Business of the Year champion

The Rugeley family business, a specialist supplier of PVC building products to the trade and DIY sectors, picked up the award at a ceremony in London that was attended by all the finalists in the national Family Business Awards, organised by Family Business United (FBU).

As well as its head office in Rugeley, GB Plastics has a total of six branches across the Midlands, and has grown to a £4million annual turnover business.

Now in its second generation, the family firm was founded in 1990 by Janet Sutherland who continues to work in the business, with her son Alan and daughters Wendy Hill and Clare Falls.

Company director Wendy Hill said: “I am delighted and honoured to be winners of the FBU Midlands Family Business of the Year Award.

"We get so caught up in the day to day running of the business that we forget to sit back and look at what we have achieved. Being nominated was fabulous, but winning is amazing.

“The awards were a fabulous evening, and it was great to see the diversity of businesses there, and be part of a really great variety of family business from across the UK, and amongst such amazing winners.”

GB Plastics was also runner-up in the People’s Choice Award: “I am thrilled to be runner-up in the People’s Choice Award,” Wendy added, “as this was voted for by our colleagues, peers and customers, so this is additional, great recognition to the honour of being crowned the Midlands Family Business of 2017.”

Paul Andrews, founder and managing director of FBU, added: "We were delighted to pull together such a vibrant bunch of family businesses for the 2017 awards, some that have succeeded for numerous generations and continue to thrive, and others that are relatively young but have great values at the heart of what they do.

“GB Plastics is a great family firm with strong family values at their core and a belief in what they do. This family firm is continuing to innovate and invest for the long term, and represents a truly great British family firm that really deserves all the plaudits that winning this award brings."

He added: “Open to family firms of all generations, sizes and sectors, these awards really do recognise some outstanding family firms and really help to put family businesses on the map.

"Judged by a panel of experts from the world of family business advising together with a group of family business representatives, the awards are well respected and sought-after accolades.”