Newtown firm is Powys Business of the Year

An innovative Newtown-based company that provides a range of cellular pathology services celebrated a notable double at the Powys Business Awards.

CellPath Ltd, which employs 63 staff and has a £7 million annual turnover, was named the overall Powys Business of the Year and also collected the Innovation Award.

Specialising in the manufacture and supply of histology and cytology products, CellPath was formed in 1990 and branched out in 2004 to establish its CellNass archival storage facility, which has grown rapidly.

CellNass stores millions of slides, blocks and other cellular pathology materials off-site for NHS hospitals across the UK.

The company has obtained a European and Technology Strategy Board grants of £1.45 million for two innovations aimed at both speeding up and improving the quality of cancer diagnostics within pathology.

The company’s innovation programme is led by brothers Paul and Philip Webber, whose father, Peter, is chairman. Responding to winning the two awards, Peter said: “It’s wonderful for the company and the family, as my two sons have driven the business since we bought it back from being listed on the London Stock Exchange and have done a great job.

“We have an exciting future ahead due to innovation. Thirty per cent of our sales are coming from new products.”

Bob Millard, a Powys Business Awards judge, said CellPath had all the hallmarks of a successful local business, having grown 400 per cent over the last 10 years.

“This is a company that has not been afraid to invest heavily in personnel and research and development, to push the technological boundaries that drive its business to further its ambitions for profitable growth,” he added.

“This company is a world leader in providing a managed human tissue authority storage and retrieval service for histology laboratories and currently archives millions of tissue slides for more than 135 NHS hospitals.”

The awards, organised by Mid Wales Manufacturing Group and sponsored by Powys County Council, celebrate excellence in business across the county. The awards ceremony was compered by TV and radio presenter Iolo Williams and attended by 300 guests.

A record number of entries was honed down to 41 businesses from across Powys, which were shortlisted in 13 categories and the judging panel revealed that the competition had been closer than ever.

The Judges Special Award for the business that had made the most lasting impression on them went to the Elephant and Castle Hotel, Newtown. Farmer Ian Williams has transformed the fortunes of the hotel after taking it out of administration in 2009 and investing more than £1 million in an extensive refurbishment programme. The hotel now employs 24 staff.

Last year’s Business of the Year, Quartix Ltd, of Newtown, retained the Business Growth Award sponsored by Finance Wales after reporting a 60 per cent sales increase, boosting its annual turnover to £13 million and expanding its workforce by 50 per cent to 89.

Annie Smith, managing partner of Harrisons Solicitors LLP in Welshpool and Newtown, won the Outstanding Mentor Award, sponsored for NPTC Group. A “people person”, she was said to lead by example the law firm, which employs 36 staff.

Emerson Control Techniques, Newtown, a leading designer and manufacturer of electric motor control technologies, received the Excellence in People Development Award sponsored by Leadership & Management Wales. The company says people development is keeping it ahead in the global market.

Olsen Engineering UK Ltd, a Caersws engineering company specialising in high performance modern ALL electric actuation systems for a range of industries, won the Entrepreneurship Award sponsored by the Welsh Government. Established by managing director Piers Olsen in 2004, the business employs five staff and has recently worked Hawk flight simulators for BAE Systems and a new $650m offshore oil and gas survey vessel.

Talented chef Bryn Evans who took over The Nags Head Inn, Garthmyl earlier this year after working at a Michelin starred restaurant in Manchester, won the Start-up Business Award sponsored by Antur Teifi. Passionate about local food, he has created 15 local jobs.

Councillor Rosemarie Harris, Powys County Council’s portfolio holder for regeneration, said the awards set the standard and were very good for staff morale and raising the profile of business in Powys.

“It’s essential that Powys County Council does whatever it can to support the business sector because its hugely important role in underpinning the economy,” she added.

The other finalists were: Small Business Award (less than 10 employees): Hilltop Honey, Caersws and Kettlebell Fever, Aberhafesp. Small Business Award (less than 25 employees): The Elephant & Castle Hotel, Newtown and GloverSure, Welshpool. Start up Business Award; Acacia Marquees, Hay-on-Wye and Powys Guns, Welshpool. Growth Award: Makefast, Newtown and Wipak UK, Welshpool. Farm Diversification Award: Nannerth Country Holidays, Rhayader and Ty Gwyn Farm, Llandrindod Wells.

Outstanding Mentor Award: Clare Spalding, FAB Clinic and Nick Davies, The Lion, Llandinam. Entrepreneurship Award: Maxim Bikes, Llanrhaeadr and Sporting Hares; Welshpool. Innovation/ New Product Development Award: Plant I, Machynlleth and Smithfield Joinery/ Modulog, Builth Wells.

Tourism Partnership/ Cluster Award: Machinations Visitor Centre, Llanbrynmair; Natural Mid Wales, Knighton and Taste Montgomery, Montgomery. Business in the Community Award: Cambrian Training Company, Welshpool and Tower House Gallery, Knighton. Best Use of Natural Resources/ Environmental Award: Nannerth Country Holidays, Rhayader and The Old Coach House Cottage, Machynlleth. Development in New Markets UK or Export: Quartix, Newtown and U Strike, Newtown. Excellence in People Development: EvaBuild, Newtown and Packaging Coordinators inc, Brecon.

Caption: Councillor Roche Davies, Powys County Council’s chairman, presents the Powys Business of the Year Award to Peter Webber, chairman of CellPath watched by (from left) Richard Titcombe, Neil Haine, Councillor Rosemarie Harris, Philip Webber, Trevor Wheatley and Paul Webber.