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Wearing the badge of success

20 March 2019
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2018 SME of the Year winners Diametric Technical discuss life after the 2018 Solent Business Awards.

The annual Solent Business Awards, which reached its fifth year in 2018, recognises the region’s highest achieving companies. Covering a range of categories the awards engage businesses of all sizes, including SMEs who are a vital part of the Solent business infrastructure. Sponsored by James Cowper Kreston, the SME of the Year award is a highly sought after accolade which was proudly presented to Diametric for their year-on-year growth, charity and community involvement and dedication to their staff and clients. The company specialises in branding and the manufacture of badges, industrial name plates and labels for well-known international and local businesses. Diametric is based in Swanmore and has a manufacturing facility on the Isle of Wight.

The annual Solent Business Awards, which reached its fifth year in 2018, recognises the region’s highest achieving companies. Covering a range of categories the awards engage businesses of all sizes, including SMEs who are a vital part of the Solent business infrastructure. Sponsored by James Cowper Kreston, the SME of the Year award is a highly sought after accolade which was proudly presented to Diametric for their year-on-year growth, charity and community involvement and dedication to their staff and clients. The company specialises in branding and the manufacture of badges, industrial name plates and labels for well-known international and local businesses. Diametric is based in Swanmore and has a manufacturing facility on the Isle of Wight.

A few months on, Louise Hallsworth, partner at James Cowper Kreston and Solent Awards judge, met with Graham Steele, managing director at Diametric, to see how winning the award had affected the business.

“It’s been fantastic,” said Steele. “We had entered the awards previously in 2016 but were still cutting our teeth and weren’t ready to compete so unfortunately didn’t make it through. To win the award two years later, with a fully functioning manufacturing plant and year-on-year growth was something no one could have predicted.

The next day at work was surreal, the entire workforce were thrilled and everyone was congratulated for their involvement in bringing the company to where it is today.

“The response on LinkedIn we have had from clients following our win has also been amazing. The fact that individuals have taken the time to congratulate us means a lot to the business. In all the years that Diametric has been trading nothing like this has been won and it demonstrates to our clients and the wider market the effort we all put in to ensure they receive the best products and service possible.”

You were recognised for your involvement in charity and community, what drives this for Diametric?

“We like to be involved,” said Steele. “It is very easy to write a cheque and consider it done, but we choose charities and events that we can have a real part in.

We have sponsored a football team on the Isle of Wight and work closely with Canine Partners, a charity which provides dogs for disabled individuals. We got our own puppy in February which we will meet, name and have the privilege of following its progress through training and on to meet its new owner.

“We also work with a local school to educate pupils on different types of career options. The children really enjoy constructing a badge which will go on a car produced by one of our clients who kindly provide the materials for them to do so.”

What does the future hold for Diametric?

“Things have been going brilliantly so far, we’ve been experiencing good growth and met our targets a year early. In the future we’re aiming to create a more tiered structure so that I am able to focus more on developing the business, creating a stronger management team and more fluid communication. We also have in place the most robust marketing campaign that the company has had in years, resulting in the contracting of new high-profile clients, so we are excited to see what opportunities this will bring.”

Would you recommend that other SMEs enter the Solent Business Awards?

“Absolutely. The SME category is all encompassing and almost acts as a benchmark for the company. It demonstrates the hard work and dedication to the clients by every member of staff while also providing a fantastic night out and a chance to dress up.”

For more information on Diametric, visit:

diametric.co.uk


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