One of industry’s leading business figures has put the spotlight on UK manufacturing with a notable regional award win. PP Control & Automation’s (PP C&A) Tony Hague was named ‘CEO of the Year’ at the Business Desk West Midlands Awards last night, beating off competition from some of the area’s biggest names in marketing, tourism, and leisure.

Under his leadership and commitment to investment in automation and technology, PP C&A has grown from 27 people and £2.5 million sales to a £36 million-plus turnover business, working with 20 of the world’s largest machinery builders.

He is also a massive advocate of people, overseeing a £5 milion spend in his 20-year tenure at PP C&A to create an in-house training school and the STEP training roadmap, which ensures each member of staff benefits from 200 hours of personal development every year.

Mr Hague said: “This is a massive shock to me, especially considering the quality of finalists I was up against. The West Midlands has some phenomenal talent and leadership and I am delighted I have been recognised for overseeing the growth of PP C&A over the last two decades. Manufacturing doesn’t always get the profile it deserves, so I am dedicating this win to all the management teams out there that are continuing to fly the flag for UK manufacturing in spite of our Government and all the economic conditions we have to put up with.”

More than 400 people packed into the Burlington Hotel in Birmingham for the Business Desk West Midlands Business of the Year Awards, one of the highlights of the regional B2B calendar.