Member Article

FRANKS PORTLOCK CELEBRATES PRESTIGIOUS AWARD WIN

Leading asbestos and environmental management consultancy, Franks Portlock has won a prestigious industry award for its socio-economic commitment to West Cumbria.

Franks Portlock won the Socio-Economic Commitment to West Cumbria Award in Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster (BECBC) Awards 2018. The award, which was sponsored by Balfour Beatty, was presented to Franks Portlock at a black-tie gala dinner, held at Energus, Workington on Thursday 22 November 2018.

BECBC is a private sector led organisation, with members from SMEs to global companies with business interests in West Cumbria. In line with the organisation’s aims, the awards recognise and celebrate ‘Cumbrian collaboration’.

Founded in 2006, by Phil Franks and Stephen Portlock, Franks Portlock is a leading asbestos consultancy company offering a complete range of asbestos consultancy, inspection, testing and management services. The company, which operates nationally, has offices in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, Rosyth, Fife and Sellafield, Cumbria.

Franks Portlock undertakes a range of activities and projects as part of its socio-economic commitment to West Cumbria, covering areas such as: employment training, educational and STEM development, volunteering and fundraising.

This includes working with the Little Lifers First Aid Initiative, the Energy Coast University Technical College and ongoing fundraising activities for Hospice at Home West Cumbria, West Cumbria Carers and the North Lakes Food Bank. In addition, the company provided equipment and training – including UKATA certified Asbestos Awareness Training and ten health and safety training modules - for West Cumbria Works’ 12-week community improvement project, which aimed to boost local employment.

James New, Sellafield site contract manager and North West regional manager at Franks Portlock, commented: “I am honoured that Franks Portlock has won this prestigious accolade. We are dedicated to providing the highest quality service to our clients and delivering ongoing support and impactful change to the communities in which we work. It is fantastic that this has been acknowledged on such a grand scale.

“I would like to thank Sellafield for all of its support, as well as everyone who has supported us and the organisations that we aim to help. I would also like to congratulate the other winners on their success, as well as all those nominated.”

Phil Franks, technical director at Franks Portlock, said: “Providing sustainable economic and social changes in the areas in which we work is a core value of Franks Portlock. I am therefore delighted that we have won this award – it is testament to the continued dedication of James and the Sellafield team who go the extra mile to enhance and engage the communities in which they work.”

The awards covered seven categories: SME Innovation and Creativity, Collaboration, Socio Economic Commitment to West Cumbria, Inspiring People, Growing Business, Micro Business of the Year and Company of the Year.

Franks Portlock is an accredited testing and inspection body and helps a wide range of organisations to manage workplace and environmental risk to comply with UK safety regulations. It also offers certified UKATA Asbestos Awareness Training for businesses and individuals who may come into contact with asbestos containing materials.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by A.E .