Berkshire: Xtrac celebrates 30th anniversary achievements
Xtrac, the UK’s world-leading developer of motorsport transmissions and drivetrain technology, has celebrated its most successful year ever, reaching significant milestones throughout its 30th anniversary, with increasing business in Argentina, Brazil and China, and exports approaching 70% of its total sales revenue.
Xtrac’s anniversary got off to a flying start last year, when the company welcomed its first-ever Royal visitor to its Berkshire headquarters, where His Royal Highness Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, met some of the 280 employees, including managing director Peter Digby, who had just been named as the Institute of Directors’ Global Director of the Year. The Duke of Kent was visiting Xtrac to recognise its ongoing export achievements and acknowledge its accomplishments in apprentice and undergraduate training.
Fast forward 12 months to an Oscar-equivalent UK industry event organised by The Manufacturer magazine where the company simultaneously won three major awards: the coveted Manufacturer of the Year Award, as well as the Leadership and Strategy and Medium Sized Enterprise of the Year awards.
Peter Digby is also listed by The Manufacturer magazine in its inaugural ‘Top 100 Most Influential People in UK Manufacturing’, which shines a light on the inspirational people making a valued contribution to the UK manufacturing sector. Meanwhile, at the CBI supported Growing Business Awards, Peter Digby is proclaimed ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’.
For the prestigious manufacturing awards, established 16 years ago, Xtrac was competing with finalists from nearly every sector of the UK’s flourishing manufacturing industries comprising: automotive, food and drink, engineering, defence contractors, speciality steel, aerospace, beauty products, medical technology, precision components and more besides.
“Receiving these awards is testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone at Xtrac, and our success as a company is a direct result of these efforts by every employee,” says Xtrac’s financial director Stephen Lane. “We have been judged against the best British manufacturing companies, and should be justifiably proud. With this recognition, our loyal customers and, most importantly, everybody working together, we are set to have another great year in 2015.”
Visits to 10 Downing Street
Other highlights of 2014 include Peter Digby being invited recently to 10 Downing Street to meet prime minister David Cameron, as part of a group organised by the Institute of Directors. Coming just prior to the chancellor making his Autumn Statement, Digby used the opportunity to suggest that it would help to grow the SME sector, and its contribution to the economy, if the government could ease the administrative burden of employee-owned companies.
Royal meetings
Other Xtrac apprentices meanwhile had the opportunity to meet His Royal Highness, The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO, who visited Newbury College in Berkshire, where they study for their engineering qualifications. Automotive companies exhibiting alongside Xtrac for this Royal visit included the Oxfordshire-based Williams F1 team, which also works closely with Newbury College on its apprenticeship programme.
