HRH The Duke of Kent has presented a Bristol-based manufacturing company with the Queen’s Award for Enterprise: Innovation – described as an ‘Oscar’ of the business world by the Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire Dame Janet Trotter.
Precision Dippings Manufacturing (PDM) is a family-run company, first established fifty years ago, that specialises in bespoke rubber dipped products for a range of national and international clients. When one of the directors’ children ended up with a plaster cast, the idea of using the company’s expertise to create a waterproof cover that allowed the child to swim and bath was born.
Years of intense research and development followed – resulting in Bloccs, PDM’s first consumer product, being launched in 2013. Already a market leader in dressing protection for both children and adults, Bloccs have now received the ultimate accolade of a Queen’s Award.
Waiting to greet His Royal Highness when he visited PDM’s factory in Yate were Managing Director Doug King and his sister Director Kate Richards. They were joined by 24 members of staff, the High Sheriff of Gloucestershire Countess Bathurst, Mayor of Yate Councillor Tony Davis and other invited guests.
Following a tour of the building, HRH presented Doug King with an engraved cut glass bowl and Kate Richards with the official Queen’s Award scroll. The royal visitor also hoisted the Queen’s Award flag up the company’s new flagpole.
“We’re extremely proud to have come so far so quickly with Bloccs,” said Director Kate Richards. “2016 has been a very exciting year for us and we’re now looking forward to expanding production and increasing sales globally.”
