29 March 2024, 10:39
By Furniture News May 07, 2013

Harrison Spinks wins two Queen’s Awards for Enterprise

Luxury bed manufacturer Harrison Spinks has been named winner of two Queen’s Awards for Enterprise in the innovation and sustainable development categories.

The Leeds-based company is believed to be the first UK bed manufacturer to have won two such awards in the same year. Only given for the highest levels of excellence demonstrated in each category, the Awards for Enterprise are made annually by Her Majesty The Queen.

Established in 1840, Harrison Spinks is a family-owned business that employs over 280 people and has a turnover in excess of £25m. The company sells its range of beds under the Somnus, Spink & Edgar and Harrison brands, and also manufactures ‘own label’ mattresses for major high street department stores.

In addition, Harrison Spinks owns and manages a 300 acre farm with a flock of sheep and woodland in North Yorkshire to provide natural materials for its mattresses and associated products.

The company’s expertise in the pocket spring comfort technology originally developed for its mattresses has allowed the business to expand into providing springs to automotive component manufacturers under the Spinks Springs brand, replacing foam in the process. It also makes baby products which are sold under the Harrison Spinks Nursery Products brand.

The Innovation Award was granted to the company for the design and manufacture of multiple innovative pocket spring types, including a new High Density spring and a Revolution spring that sees a small spring inserted into a standard pocket spring. Both types deliver enhanced technical performance and increased efficiencies. This has given Harrison Spinks a competitive advantage and increased the company’s international sales of springs to other manufacturers.

With regard to the Sustainable Development Award, Harrison Spinks was awarded the accolade for developing innovative, sustainable mattresses and setting an industry benchmark in relation to the sustainability of operations and products.

The company’s mattresses are fully recyclable using material sourced on the basis of their sustainability credentials, including using natural materials grown at its own farm. Harrison Spinks also runs its own Eco Visitor Centre to inform consumers about the processes it uses and sustainable development more generally.

Commenting on the Awards, Harrison Spinks' MD Simon Spinks says: “Winning two Queen’s Awards simultaneously is a remarkable achievement for the company, and one of which we are extremely proud.

“The awards recognise the commitment to excellence that we all share at Harrison Spinks and reflect the fact that innovation and sustainability are at the very heart of our business. We are dedicated to continuous improvement, so we will remain focused on developing products that enhance comfort wherever they can be applied.

“We have some exciting developments in the bed mattress, spring component and baby products sectors that we are looking forward to launching later this year, which will further demonstrate our commitment to innovation and sustainability.”
 

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