Leicester design agency wins national award for supplier diversity

Online, October 7, 2010 (Newswire.com) - An integrated design agency has been recognised for its work with household names by winning a national award from an organisation which helps ethnic minority firms win supply contracts with large businesses.
Standout UK, based in Desford Hall, Leicester, beat off strong competition to be awarded the Business Growth and Innovation category at the 2nd annual Supplier Diversity Awards organised by Minority Supplier Development UK (MSDUK).
The awards, which took place at London Marriott, Grosvenor Square Hotel and attended by over 400 people including blue chip organisations, recognise ethnic minority businesses who have grown their business and corporate buyers who have added diversity to their list of regular suppliers.
Founder and managing director of Standout UK, Dan Barber says the award was recognition of how quickly the firm had grown over the last few years and the work it now does with household names. It had also been nominated in the Supplier of the Year category.
He said: "We are delighted to be given this award and this is a tremendous achievement for a design agency like Standout and a good measure of how we are growing. It is a great acknowledgment for all the work that has gone into the business since we began 10 years ago especially from our staff.
"I'm always extremely proud of the work our team delivers, and these awards serve as further validation of the value and creativity we deliver on behalf of our clients every day."
Over the last 12 months the firm has won a number of contracts with household names such as the UK's number one healthier snack brand Snack-a-Jacks' and luxury chocolate maker Lindt.
It recently invested a six figure sum into relocating its business to Desford Hall, from its former base in the city as part of the company's strategic growth plan to increase its service offering and client base.
The move will create over 20 jobs in the next few years to add to the 18 staff it already employs. The business also recently opened an office in Farringdon, London, where it hopes to raise its profile and win work with more international businesses.
Standout UK client list now include a number of household names including Scott's Porage Oats, Copella Fruit Juices, Monster Munch, PepsiCo and Triumph International on a whole range of design and marketing campaigns.
Last month, it helped launch the first direct online store for household lingerie brand Triumph International.
MSDUK currently works with a number of blue chip organisations including BT, KPMG and Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Since it started in 2006 MSDUK members have generated over £9 million worth of business with EMBs within the MSDUK network.
The awards ceremony is part of a three-day event organised by MSDUK that also includes a conference and business fair.