It has just been announced that multi-award-winning homelift manufacturer, Stiltz Ltd., has received the highest accolade to be bestowed on a UK business; The Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade 2020.
Recommended by the Prime Minister, and approved by Her Majesty the Queen, Stiltz joins illustrious past winners including household names Black & Decker, JCB, Tyrell’s Crisps and Isabella Oliver maternity wear.
With a head office in the West Midlands and regional offices near Reading and Leeds, the award comes in the company’s 10th anniversary year. It is a fitting recognition of how quickly the innovative and attractive concept of the homelift has gained traction in the hearts and minds of the general public, not only in the UK, but across many global locations.
When Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer Lachlan Faulkner set up the company it was very much with a view to disrupting the accessible living industry. “We saw the products which were available at the time for the less mobile and were taken aback at the lack of design aesthetic” Lachlan explained. Knowing the consumers of these products were once people who were at the forefront of the rock ‘n’ roll revolution and spearheaded the desire for stylish clothes, attractive home décor and statement cars or motorbikes, he went on to say “This really made us think about what they might want as well as what they need”.
Fast forward a few years and Stiltz has established a broad customer base in the UK market, picked up investment along the way, moved to larger offices several times in all its locations, and introduced several new products. By 2016 strategic overseas strongholds in key global locations were in place, including, Australia, Germany, USA, France and Benelux. From 2018 this expansion accelerated to the point that Stiltz products are now available in 37 global markets through a combination of strategic partners, distributors and satellite offices. This has been matched by investment in manufacturing and R&D to enable the continued drive for improvement and innovation.
Throughout this growth and expansion though, the overriding ambition of the business has remained simple and true to its roots. To democratise the homelift. To make it as easy to choose, buy and install one as you would a washing machine or dishwasher. To make sure that, whether a user is future proofing or is in immediate need of a product to help them get up and down the stairs, they are able to access a product they like; one which helps boost confidence and well-being in addition to fulfilling a specific purpose. A product which means they can continue to live in their family home for as long as they wish to.
On learning that Stiltz Homelifts had won the Queen’s Award, Lachlan Faulkner commented: “I am extremely proud to know that the Prime Minister recommended, and Her Majesty The Queen approved, Stiltz for the International Trade Award; it’s a big deal for us. Along with winning the 2019 Lloyds Bank Exporter of the Year Award late last year, it is testament to the hard work of everyone within the business that we’re gaining recognition for making such rapid progress with our export strategy. CEO Mike Lord and myself would like to thank each and every member of the Stiltz family for their efforts and once we are no longer working remotely due to the lockdown, I’m certain we’ll be enjoying a celebratory glass or two of champagne”!