Winners announced in UK’s Sold to the World Awards

Avon Specialty Metals recognised in the ‘advanced manufacturing and construction‘ category

From ethical metal recycling to AI-driven edtech and digital identity, 12 UK-based SMEs were last month named as winners of the Department for Business and Trade’s (DBT) 2025 Made in the UK, Sold to the World Awards. Now in their third year, the awards endeavour to celebrate the international growth of the UK’s most dynamic small businesses.

Recognised in the ‘advanced manufacturing and construction’ category, Avon Specialty Metals Ltd is a UK leader in the ethical recycling, processing, and trading of high-performance specialty metals and alloys. Founded in 2012 and based in Gloucester, the company specialises in nickel, cobalt, and superalloy materials, serving critical sectors such as aerospace, energy, medical, and automotive manufacturing.

Exporting has been a key driver of growth for Avon Specialty Metals, with international sales increasing by 192% over the past three years and contributing £11.5 million in export revenue in 2023 alone. The company is currently finalising a long-term supply agreement with a US-based vacuum melting facility and expanding into East Asian markets. As demand grows globally for sustainable, high-specification materials, Avon continues to strengthen the UK’s presence in advanced manufacturing through responsible sourcing and long-term international partnerships.

Gareth Thomas, Minister for Services, Small Businesses and Exports, said: “The innovation and entrepreneurship shown by the businesses entering the Made in the UK, Sold to the World Awards demonstrate the best of British business. When small businesses export, the whole economy benefits. By celebrating the outstanding international trade achievements of UK SMEs, we hope to encourage more businesses to get on the exporting ladder and take the ‘best of Britain’ to markets worldwide.”

This year’s winners were chosen from hundreds of entries across 12 sector-focused categories, including two new areas — ‘digital and technology‘ and ‘export services’ — introduced to reflect evolving global opportunities. Each category includes one winner and up to three highly commended businesses.

In the digital and technology category, Porotech stood out for its augmented reality (AR) and AI-powered wearables, with 90% of revenue from exports and partnerships with Amazon, Microsoft and Foxconn. Twin Science and Robotics, winner in ‘education and edtech’, exports to over 40 countries and has seen 70% annual revenue growth through its STEM kits focused on AI, robotics and climate literacy.

Sustainability also remains a major theme across the winners. Osbit, winner in ‘low carbon energy’, delivers mission-critical offshore wind technology, with 65% of revenue from exports. Meanwhile, Avon Specialty Metals, recognised in the ‘advanced manufacturing and construction’ category, recycles high-performance metals and alloys and has impressively grown international sales by 192% over three years.

Winners like Gerald McDonald and Company (agriculture, food and drink) and LIMB-art (healthcare) underscore the global demand for high quality British-made products. From innovative prosthetics to premium fruit derivatives, these SMEs prove that exporting drives resilience, expansion and innovation.

Steven Munnoch, Avon Specialty Metals’ CEO, said: “Winning the Made in the UK, Sold to the World Award is a huge honour for Avon Specialty Metals. Exporting has been central to our growth, helping us reach global markets with our sustainable, UK-manufactured metal alloys. This award recognises the hard work of our team and reinforces our position as a trusted international partner in high-performance recycling and alloy production.”

This year’s winners will receive a bespoke promotional package, including a one-year membership to the Chartered Institute of Export and International Trade, a working capital masterclass with Lloyds Bank, an invitation to the winners’ reception in London, professional photography of their business, bespoke promotion on DBT channels and a digital badge, certificate and trophy to commemorate their achievements.

By creating jobs, driving innovation and exporting world-class British products and services, these businesses are making a vital contribution to the Government’s mission to go further and faster for economic growth as part of its Plan for Change. A key part of this mission is supporting SMEs to grow, scale and enter global markets—recognising that when more businesses trade internationally, the entire UK economy benefits. Exporting supports a fifth of UK employment, paying on average 7% higher wages and delivering 21% higher productivity for goods exporters.

To help achieve its goals, the Government recently revamped the Board of Trade to boost SME exports and will soon launch its Trade Strategy. This will set out its approach to maximising export opportunities, including those arising from recently signed agreements with India, the USA and the European Union (EU).