Forest Garden presented the first King’s Award for Enterprise – for Innovation.

Forest Garden has welcomed a host of dignitaries to its Worcestershire headquarters for its presentation of the first ever King’s Award for Enterprise – for Innovation.

Forest chairman Guy Grainger and CEO Sam Smith were presented with the award, which is the highest and most prestigious given to UK businesses, the ceremony was carried out by Mrs Beatrice Grant, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Worcestershire.

Guy Grainger, chairman of Forest Garden, said: “It was an amazing day to celebrate with our Forest Garden colleagues and local dignitaries as we were presented with our King’s Award for Enterprise – For Innovation.

“It recognises our continued commitment to push the boundaries and develop new manufacturing techniques for the 21st century.”

Visiting dignitaries to the ceremony last week included: Gary Woodman, chief executive of Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, councillor Alan Amos, vice chairman of Worcestershire County Council Hall, Louise Hewett DL, high sherrif of Worcestershire and councillor Robert Raphael, chairman of Wychavon County Council.

The prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise is for Forest Garden’s innovation of a world-first fully automatic high-speed fence panel manufacturing process.

By fully automating the manufacturing process, it has reduced panel production time by almost 70%, improved production margins, and enabled its UK-sourced and manufactured products to compete with imports.

Automation has also delivered a more uniform, quality product and increased the business’s ability to meet storm-driven surges in fencing demand.