Power Jacks’ growth awarded by the Queen

The Queen’s Award for Business Enterprise is being given to 157 British businesses and organizations in 2011 for showing sustained increase in export earnings over three consecutive years.

A representative of the royal family presents it and on this occasion the presenter was Scotland’s First Minister.

The £6m building will expand capacities to meet growing international demand. It will house the company’s headquarters and a manufacturing facility.

Power jacks increased sales from 2007 to 2009 by more than £5m, or 246%. Exports last year amounted to £13m and in the previous two years almost 70% of total production was exported.

The company attributed its growth to marketing by its wholly-owned sales office in Shanghai and distributors in Europe, Africa, Asia and Australasia.

Power Jacks’ has 5,000 clients include as Airbus, BAE, Cadbury, Diageo, Ferrari and Red Bull Racing, Glaxo, ICI, Rolls Royce and Unilever.

Managing director Bruce Bultitude said: “Power Jacks is entering an exciting new era and as a progressive, forward-thinking enterprise, we have consolidated our position for future growth. Our new headquarters will significantly enhance our operations around the world and underpins our commitment to the north-east of Scotland where our engineering heritage dates back to 1903.   

“All of Power Jacks’ manufacturing is done on-site in the north-east, ensuring the highest standards of technical expertise and that the latest technologies and innovations are utilised, to the benefit of our customers.”

“We are also investing in the next generation of engineers through our long-established apprenticeship scheme with Banff and Buchan College to ensure our global-leading position for the future of Power Jacks and that of the region.

First minister Rt Hon Alex Salmond said: “I am absolutely thrilled to be opening the new Power Jacks headquarters in Ellon - right in the heart of my parliamentary constituency in Aberdeenshire.

He continued, "It is fabulous to see a Scottish manufacturing company that has its origins in 1903 and was established in its present form in 1987, continue not just to thrive, but expand, develop and grow. That much is clear when you look around the excellent workshop and offices that the company now calls home.