Multi-award-winning company Gate 7 has been officially presented with its second Queen’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade by His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester, at the company’s headquarters in Gateshead.
The presentation was made in front of the Gate 7 team and a host of industry guests. Also, in attendance was Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for Tyne and Wear, Mrs Susan M. Winfield OBE.
Accepting the award on behalf of the Gate 7 team was Managing Director, Kate Wickham MBE and Chairman Keith Wickham.
The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise is an awards programme for British businesses and other organisations who excel at international trade, innovation or sustainable development.
Managing Director, Kate Wickham commented on winning the award, she said, “This is the second Queen’s Award that Gate 7 has won, the first was back in 2005, so it is a fantastic achievement for the whole team at Gate 7 to be given such a prestigious award for a second time.”
Wickham continued, “We are particularly proud of our achievement. Of the 152 companies to be recognised for their contribution to International Trade in 2018, Gate 7 was the only company to be recognised in this category and were one of only three awards granted in the North East as a whole.”
The 2018 Queen’s Award was granted to Gate 7 for its outstanding growth in overseas sales over the last three-years, which saw a consolidated growth rate of over 67%.
Gate 7, based in the North East of England, is an innovative company specialising in the supply of decals and printed components to the Construction equipment, Agricultural and Industrial Machinery markets.
Founded in 2000, by the company’s current chairman, Keith Wickham. The company’s product portfolio includes safety, warning and instructional decals, livery, branding, machine IDs, aluminium identification plates and reflective components. All products are manufactured across three facilities in Gateshead UK, Pennsylvania USA and South Carolina USA.
The company’s customers include many leading OEM’s, who demand the highest level of quality and performance from their suppliers. Customers include Komatsu, JCB, Volvo, Kuhn and Caterpillar. Gate 7 supply to multiple divisions of these companies worldwide.
In 2017, Kate Wickham was awarded an MBE for services to Export and Outward Investment. Wickham said, “We (Gate 7) have always been focused on global growth with export targets being key to the company’s business plan. Exporting is the lifeblood of Gate 7 and being honoured with an MBE will undoubtedly help with our vision for further growth of the Gate 7 Group.
Wickham has been the driving force behind the company’s export success since becoming MD in 2011, which has resulted in increased sales and a huge growth into new markets worldwide.
Earlier this year, the company was presented with a Board of Trade Award (BOFTA) in appreciation of its outstanding contribution to International Trade. Wickham received the Award from Dr Liam Fox, MP, Secretary of State for International Trade, at the presentation ceremony in Durham Castle.
Maintaining a strong domestic market provides the foundation to expand further into Gate 7’s key overseas markets including Europe, USA and Asia. This is done organically through the division structure of the OEMs and is heavily dependent on Gate 7 maintaining an excellent reputation as experts in their field.
The company also utilises worldwide exhibitions as an opportunity to present and market Gate 7’s products. Wickham concluded, “Overseas exhibitions are an excellent way to meet potential new customers, research new markets, new products, competition and to showcase Gate 7.
Support from trade organisations such as UK Trade and Investment and the CEA (Construction Equipment Association) are integral to our future growth strategy by offering assistance through funding, contacts and advice.
Header image: Gate 7’s Managing Director, Kate Wickham and His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester with a Komatsu Hybrid showing the Gate 7 decals.
