Linemark UK
Based in the Rossendale Valley in Lancashire, and starting our journey in 1997 with 3 people to 42 members of staff today, we manufacture paint and supply machines for the sports and amenity industry. Paint manufactured here at the foot of the Pennines is in use at some of the world’s major stadiums, including:
- Old Trafford (Manchester United)
- The Etihad (Manchester City)
- Anfield (Liverpool)
- Wembley
- Twickenham
- Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
- Barcelona (Spain)
- Ellis Park (South Africa)
- London and Manchester velodromes; and
- Estadio Centenario (Uruguay)
Our products are used at most of the English Premiership clubs and we have manufactured paint and supplied signage (through our HD Signology business) for the London 2012 Olympics, Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and Rugby World Cup 2015.
Having won a Queen’s Award for Innovation in 2011 the recognition it brought for the company was fantastic, not just here in the UK; we had many enquiries from abroad, interested to know about our game-changing new and innovative products, paint and machine, that could mark a football pitch with only ONE LITRE of paint (A World First!). In fact, it was that first Queen’s Award that gave us the drive to really expand internationally. Momentum had begun with enquiries from France and Denmark and we didn’t look back. We now export to 43 countries on 5 continents, and we’re still striving ahead.
Preparation, preparation, preparation
The process for our Queen’s Award application wasn’t complicated at all, with an online form which we could just keep working on and saving. It takes a great deal of hard work but starting the process early saved us from that ‘last minute deadline’ feeling, as we had been chipping away at the form for months, telling our story and gathering all the information required.
When it actually comes together as the finished article, then you receive the news that you’ve been shortlisted, the whole thing starts to become real and exciting.
Time to celebrate
Having achieved a Queen’s Award in 2011, one of the highlights was having the privilege to meet and share a little of our story with Her Majesty The Queen. It was such an honour to attend the reception at Buckingham Palace, which our Export Manager and General Manager went on to experience 5 years later in 2016. Discovering we’d won a 2nd Queen’s Award, this time for International Trade, particularly on The Queen’s 90th Birthday, was a very special moment. We told all at Linemark as soon as we were allowed and every single person was aware that they were part of a real celebration that everyone had contributed to - it was so lovely to see everyone feel rewarded for their work and share stories together. We hired a venue locally and the Linemark team, distributors and guests from around the world gathered to celebrate - we received the award from the Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire and so many commented on how proud they, as individuals, felt.
Flying the flag
As with our first Queen’s Award, this new addition has been a real boost for the company, with more distributors and countries added since the announcement of our International Trade Award. The Queen’s Award Flag flies proudly in front of our building and we feel honoured to have such prestigious recognition - it’s one of those symbols that when you see it, you take note.
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