Taunton firm LEW Techniques has been presented with a second Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade, the UK’s highest accolade for business success. One hundred and twenty staff and friends celebrated in style at the Somerset County Cricket Ground enjoying an evening packed with good food, entertainment and dancing.

The South West company, which manufactures high-precision miniature package components for mounting semiconductor devices, was joined by Annie Maw, Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset who presented the award, and her deputy, Richard Case.

The award officially recognises three years of exceptional growth in international trade, from 2014 to 2017. During that time, responding to growth in the telecommunications sector, the company has increased its numbers of staff by 50%, and now 90 people work at its factories on Cook Way. Andrew Walker, Technical Director, said:

“We’ve increased our exports by a further 60% since the last Award in 2016. Our largest export markets continue to be China and other parts of Asia; Germany and France, and now we’ve added South Africa to our expanding list of export destinations.”

Mr Walker added:

“LEW has grown these markets sometimes through luck and chance, but mostly through the determination to succeed and prosper where others have faltered. We continue to manufacture highly-technical components here in the UK, and we are stronger and more diverse than ever before.” “The award is the result of a whole-company effort. It’s the staff that make the company successful and a truly nice place to work. People’s high levels of expertise, commitment and enthusiasm week-in, week-out, mean that the company can provide a successful and unique set of services at an international level.”