Borders-based technology business wins national manufacturing award
An electronics business is proving that the industry remains very much alive and thriving in the Scottish Borders after winning a national award.
Stewart Technology launched in Tweedbank in 1998 and has grown to a staff of 60 making electronic circuit boards for a wide range of products across medical, aerospace, environmental monitoring and other sectors.
The business is now one of the UK’s leading providers of Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS).
And that was recognised in Glasgow this month when managing director John Robertson collected the Manufacturer of the Year for businesses with less than £10m profit at the annual Insider Made in Scotland Awards, sponsored by the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, which shine the spotlight on manufacturing across the country. Stewart Technology also now go forward to the Made in the UK awards later this year.
The Tweedbank-based firm found themselves up against two other Borders companies in Lochcarron of Scotland and Motivity Solutions Ltd, as well as top companies from across Scotland.
He was joined by operations director Stewart Robertson and head of sales, marketing and business development, Shannon Taitt.
Shannon said: “This was the first time we had entered the Manufacturing Awards, as a way of trying to raise our profile a little, and we didn’t expect to be nominated never mind actually beat off some pretty stiff competition.
“So, it was quite a surprise, a shock on the night to be honest, but obviously a very pleasant one.
“It is great for the whole company and staff to receive some recognition for the work we have been doing and to show how high quality the engineering that we do is.
“We are now working across so many industries that there are very few sectors we don’t provide circuit boards for, and our growth in the past year is what seemed to persuade the judges.
“We’re now working on achieving the defence standard for the military and we’re looking to start building our new factory soon, which will also be in Tweedbank and will be double the size of our existing one, so it’s all quite exciting.”
It is also good news for the Scottish Borders. When electronics firms started moving into the region in the 1970s and 1980s, they were seen as a long-term replacement and provider of employment after the loss of many jobs in the textile industry.
But when government subsidies ran out many electronics firms left the area.
The success of Stewart Technology and others across the region show that manufacturing remains attractive.
“I think over the past few years we’ve seen a lot of people who have taken their manufacturing abroad coming back to the UK,” added Shannon.
“So, as we saw at the ‘Made in Scotland Awards’, there is still a lot going on and developing in Scottish manufacturing.
“It’s great to see that growth that we have here and to have the opportunity to make another factory is only going to enable us to employ more people in the industry and help keep the Borders on the global map.”