A COMPANY making kitchens for the affordable housing sector has landed a national award.
Dewsbury-based Rixonway Kitchens has been named Manufacturer of the Year by Wates Living Space, one of the UK’s leading affordable housing contractors and a division of the family owned Wates Group.
The accolade came at Wates’ inaugural Supply Chain Awards, which recognise the efforts of Wates’ principal UK suppliers to help it provide housing clients with best value during times of economic turbulence.
Rixonway recently hit the impressive milestone of producing its five millionth kitchen unit – an achievement made possible by significant capital investment in machinery and the expansion of its manufacturing facility.
The company delivers more than 12,000 rigid units a week from its hi-tech, 175,000sq ft plant at Shaw Cross.
Rixonway sales and marketing director David Anderson said: “We have a record of consistently introducing innovations and improving our service provision and are able to offer our clients seven to 11 day delivery on orders.Š
“Further, we now have an ‘on-time in-full’ delivery record of 98% of which we’re incredibly proud. This award is recognition of that commitment.”
The 450-strong company has continued to defy the downturn – seeing revenues increase by 23% in 2009-2010 to £28.8m and recording earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of £5.1m.
Dave Oates, supply chain director for Wates Living Space, said: “The awards initiative was largely motivated by our desire to further integrate our suppliers into Wates and for them to see themselves as an extension of our business.
“We want our whole supply chain to see how appreciative we are of the commitment provided to us and the effort taken to go that extra mile for our clients.”
The awards were presented at a ceremony at the Motorcycle Museum in Coventry. More than 45 companies attended the awards ceremony, which also raised in excess of £3,500 for Wates’ nominated charity, Shelter.
Rixonway also has a commitment to combating homelessness. Last year, the firm donated a large family kitchen to the Harrogate Homeless Project, which provides accommodation for single adults, supporting them in finding permanent and stable residences.
Rixonway, which was formed in 1978, is the only UK kitchen manufacturer working solely in affordable and social housing.
Wates is one of the UK’s largest family-owned construction services and development companies.
Established in 1897, it remains privately owned by the Wates Family and employs more than 2,000 people. It posted turnover of £985m in 2010.
Wates Living Space is one of the UK’s leading affordable housing contractors. Working with social providers, the firm builds or refurbishes about 30,000 homes for residents each year through the New Build and decent homes programme.
The company was named Contractor of the Year at the Housing Excellence Awards and Sustainable Contractor of the Year at the Inside Housing Sustainable Housing Awards in 2009.
