Roberts Recycling based in Huyton, Knowsley, were presented with The Queen’s Award for Enterprise (International Trade) on Friday 16 June 2023.
This is the second time the organisation has received a Queen’s Award for Enterprise, having achieved the accolade in 2019.
Friday’s presentation was an historic occasion as it was the last of The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, following Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s death on 8 September 2022.
His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Merseyside, Mr Mark Blundell, presented the award on behalf of His Majesty King Charles III.
The Queen’s Award for Enterprise is awarded for growth and commercial success in international trade. It is the highest accolade for UK businesses. Winners have demonstrated that their business has achieved substantial growth in overseas earning and in commercial success (for their business size and sector) through either outstanding achievement over three years or continuous achievement over six years.
Roberts Recycling was established 10 years’ ago by three brothers – Paul, John and Simon Roberts. What started in a portacabin is now a multi-million-pound company with three warehouses in Knowsley.
The family-run company keep textiles out of landfill, reducing the carbon footprint of unwanted textiles by keeping them in circulation for longer and recycling them ethically when they come to the end of their useful life.
Initially trading within the UK market selling to exporters, Roberts Recycling began increasing volumes and exporting goods directly into Europe. Trade into Europe has increased along with the customer base. This gave opportunities to find markets for a wider range of used clothing products to be exported. Export sales increased by 200% between 2016 and 2018.
Sales are now continuing to Eastern Europe and have spread out from Poland to Georgia, Latvia, Romania and the Middle East.
The company wins the Queen’s Award for International Trade for Outstanding Short-Term Growth in overseas sales over the last three years. Growth has been maintained against the odds during the most difficult of years with Covid and the changes as a result of Brexit.
Simon Roberts from Roberts Recycling said:
“We are incredibly proud to receive The Queen’s Award for Enterprise, recognising our short-term growth in overseas sales over the last three years. This has been against a backdrop of immense challenges and pressures including the pandemic and changes as a result of Brexit. The award recognises the hard work of everyone at Roberts Recycling as well as our continued business expansion, job creation and our support to the local economy.”
Cllr Eddie Connor, Mayor of Knowsley, also attended the presentation and added:
“Congratulations to Roberts Recycling. A very well deserved award to a company that is growing, innovating and championing UK business. The Award is a prestigious honour for Roberts Recycling to receive. Congratulations and well done.”