Cumbrian firm Chimney Sheep has been officially presented with its Queen’s Award for Enterprise.
Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria, Claire Hensman, made the presentation at the firm’s new headquarters in Workington.
Chimney Sheep was just one of 51 companies in the UK to win an award in the prestigious innovation category for its draught excluder.
The Lord Lieutenant and Deputy Lieutenant David Beeby also toured Chimney Sheep’s new solar-powered factory and offices, seeing how the Chimney Sheep draught excluder was made and learning about the company’s expansion into other product ranges.
Sally Phillips, founder and director of Chimney Sheep, said: “It is such an honour to be presented with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the innovation category. Now settled into our Workington headquarters, the past 12 months have been a whirlwind for the business. With the rise in heating bills as well as an appearance on BBC’s Countryfile, this winter has been our busiest yet, increasing our annual turnover by 50 per cent.
“Innovation and sustainability were at the core of the Chimney Sheep draught excluder when I created it 11 years ago and they still form the basis of our product ranges today.
“We will continue to innovate, adding more unique, functional and sustainable products to our range. We plan to keep using Herdwick wool to ensure we can increase our annual wool collection, Operation Wool, which will help to support our local community of Herdwick wool farmers.
“As we grow, so does out Community Interest Company, Buy Land Plant Trees. We have so far bought 178 acres of agriculturally poor land in Cumbria, planting 100,000 trees. Twenty per cent of the profit of Chimney Sheep Ltd will continue to go to BLPT so plenty more trees will be planted in our locality to help with carbon capture, flood prevention and habitat creation.”
