News

Amarjit Binji, Chief Executive Officer of AJB Group, beat off stiff competition to win the prestigious title of ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ at the recently held Midlands Business Awards (MBAs). Winners across the 11 categories were announced at a gala black-tie event, which was held in Leicester on Friday 4 March. Showing their full support on the night, Amarjit was joined by family members along with friends and colleagues.

Highly valued recognition
The MBAs were established in 2006 to give highly valued recognition to exceptional growing businesses across the East and West Midlands. Visionary entrepreneur, Amarjit, commented: “I was totally shocked to win this award but equally humbled and delighted. It’s no easy feat to navigate a business and achieve continuing growth while advocating for innovation and change in our specialist sector, but it’s worth it to have tributes like this and see the hard work paying off. I’m incredibly proud of my dream team who all have a part to play in our collective success.”

The candidates were evaluated based on their entrepreneurial leadership, talent management, financial performance, societal impact, degree of difficulty in navigating and overcoming obstacles to make their companies successful, and originality, among other core contributions and attributes.

Amarjit was one of six finalists in the ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ category. He was selected by an independent panel of judges for his outstanding positive leadership coupled with a strong track record of commercial success and driving a positive agenda for best practice and change in his sector, while demonstrating his commitment to the community through charitable activities.

The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak, MP for Richmond (Yorks) and Chancellor of the Exchequer, said: “I’d like to congratulate Amarjit on winning this award. Businesses are the heartbeat of British economy. Entrepreneurs play a pivotal role in wealth creation and adding even greater value to all aspects of our British ways of life, more so now than ever before.”

Helen Hewitt, Chief Executive of the British Woodworking Federation (BWF), went on to say: “It gives me enormous pleasure to congratulate Amarjit on winning the ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ category at the Midlands Business Awards. As a proud ambassador of the woodworking and manufacturing industry, Amarjit’s passion, drive and dedication to this sector is commendable. As past BWF Award winners, this isn’t a surprise and is another example of how Amarjit has led and developed the AJB Group.”

Humble beginnings
AJB Group manufactures world-class joinery products, including timber windows, external and interior solid joinery doors and frames. Its customer base includes The Shard, BBC TV Centre, Centre point and Battersea Power Station, as well as numerous celebrities. On selected projects, AJB Group continues to work in partnership with Shadbolt & Sons – Braintree-based manufacturer of upmarket timber products – and a family firm established in 1884 by Frederick Robert Shadbolt. The business operates from a 40,000sq.ft state-of-the-art factory in Corby, Northamptonshire.

Starting out as a carpenter and joiner, Amarjit soon found himself becoming frustrated with the lack of innovation and modern technique within his specialist field, and went on to set up his own company in 1999. AJB Group currently employs around 40 staff, including friends and family members. Factory Manager Darren Moore has been with the business for 23 years and is their longest-serving employee.

AJB Group uses timber from across the globe, choosing to buy solely from sustainable sources and those which are committed to tree planting. In addition, the company has installed a biomass boiler, meaning it uses no gas and 100% of its waste is recycled to heat the factory, so none is sent to landfill.

For further information on AJB Group, see www.ajb-group.co.uk.