Swindon-based upmarket furniture firm Neptune has been crowned a national winner in HSBC’s Global Connections 2014, which aims to find the country’s most innovative and forward-thinking businesses.
Neptune, an international lifestyle brand that designs and manufactures handcrafted furniture and accessories for the home, was one of two winners in the category for companies turning over of up to £30m.
The business was selected from thousands of entries from across the UK to become one of the 15 regional winners invited to attend the UK national final in Loch Lomond, hosted by Katie Derham.
Neptune, which started out in 1996 selling garden hammocks, is forecasting 25% growth through an increased online presence and 10 new stores across the UK and north east Europe. It makes a wide range of high-quality garden and kitchen/dining furniture.
Co-founder John Sims-Hilditch said: “We’re delighted and humbled by winning this award. It was something that we truly wanted to win but felt it was going to be incredibly hard with such amazing talent here.
“This means a huge amount to the business. We’re planning to build a business that will last a long time and this will help build the DNA that we are a special business. The staff will take a lot from that.”
Beating Neptune to claim first prize in the under-£30m turnover category was Endura of Livingston, Scotland.
Pictured, from left: HSBC UK CEO António Simões with Neptune co-founder John Sims-Hilditch at the awards ceremony
