His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset presents prestigious King's Award to Atlantas Marine
Released On 25th Sep 2024
His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset presents the prestigious King’s Award to Atlantas Marine
The Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset, His Majesty’s personal representative in the county, visited Atlantas Marine in Yeovil on 13 September to present them with a King’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade. The specialist underwater inspection equipment and services company was the only Somerset company to receive a King’s Award this year.
Considered the UK’s most prestigious business award programme, Atlantas Marine was recognised for its excellence in international trade, with the company’s overseas earnings growing by more than 300 per cent over a three-year period.
Speaking at the presentation, the Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset, Mr Mohammed Saddiq, said: “It is a privilege to present this award to Atlantas Marine and to learn about the impressive work that is being done here. Having come here for the first time today, it is clear there is a very positive culture within the organisation, and the longevity of some of the staff validates that.
“As a business, their move into the renewable sector signifies how they have adapted to a new market at a time when the country, if not the world, is having to deal with the challenges of climate change. The innovation and courage that they have shown to get where they are today is nothing less than remarkable. This award is a symbol to recognise the work they have done collectively to make this such a great company, contributing to the local economy, growing through international trade and trebling their sales over the last three years. I can’t think of a more worthy organisation for this award.”
Charlie Foll, Managing Director and Founder of Atlantas Marine, said: “To be honoured with a King’s Award for Enterprise is a real accolade and we are thrilled to have received a message today from the King acknowledging this achievement. It is such a prestigious, internationally recognised award, and already it’s leading to growth within the business, throwing a spotlight on the company and opening up new opportunities, both nationally and internationally. This has enabled us to create more jobs and we’ll be recruiting more people as a result of this growth. It also provides a boost for the local economy as we use local engineering companies within our supply chain to manufacture parts for the products we’re producing. We are enormously proud of this award and excited about the opportunities that lie ahead, leading to further growth of the business.”
During his visit, the Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset also officially opened Atlantas Marine’s new state-of-the-art, energy-efficient premises at Glenmore Business Park, which comprise smart offices, workshops and stores, complete with solar panels and air source heat pumps.
Atlantas Marine designs and manufactures underwater inspection cameras and equipment that enable marine inspections to be carried out using unmanned submersible vehicles (Remotely Operated Vehicles or ROVs), controlled on the surface by specialist ROV operators. It has been the UK dealer of industry-leading VideoRay ROVs since 2001, supplying more than 400 systems. It also provides subsea offshore inspection services, technical support and training to customers worldwide, working across a range of industries including offshore wind, oil & gas and defence.
The King’s Awards for Enterprise, previously known as The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, were renamed last year to reflect His Majesty The King’s desire to continue the legacy of HM Queen Elizabeth II by recognising outstanding UK businesses. First established in 1965, the Award program is now in its 58th year and is considered the most prestigious business award in the country.
