Stone and quartz processor Stone System of London Ltd has won the inaugural Natural Stone Specialist magazine Business Initiative Award, sponsored by the Waters Group, suppliers of machinery, tools and consumables to the stone industry.

The Portland Basebed Award trophy, pictured on the right, was designed and made in exemplary fashion by a second year stonemasonry students at Moulton College in Northamptonshire.

The winners also received an iPad from the Waters Group and a certificate to mark the achievement.

The Award was presented to the company at its Octimum Business Park headquarters this month (February) by Natural Stone Specialist Editor Eric Bignell.
The Award was launched at the Natural Stone Show in ExCeL London in March last year to recognise the efforts of companies to raise their profiles in the market place, find new markets and achieve more sales.

Stone System of London showed what can be done following a management buy-out by Mark Mills, now the Managing Director, from Spanish giants Cosentino in 2010. His subsequent initiatives saw sales grow 17% last year and, he confidently predicts, will see further growth this year of around 10%.

His moves include recruiting a salesperson to expand the number of kitchen and bathroom showrooms Stone System make granite and quartz worktops for, engaging an agent in London, increasing sales directly to consumers by advertising, creating a smart new website and opening a new showroom at the company headquarters.

The final part of the plan, the opening of the showroom, was due to take place this month (on the 25th), with the guests including Woking Mayor Ken Howard and MP Jonathan Lord.
If you would like to enter the BIA 2012 Award, you can download an entry form the home page of this website.