S Jones Takes Home Its First Trophy – Made in the Midlands Manufacturing Innovation Award!
April has been a thrilling and eventful month across the business. The momentum kicked off at the Fire Safety Event, where we exhibited over three days and, on April 9th, led a well-received panel discussion titled “Electric Revolution, Safety Evolution: Prioritising Battery Regulations.” The talk drew a full house and ended on a high note with engaging questions from an enthusiastic audience – impressive for our very first appearance at the show!
But the true highlight came later that same day…
Back in March, we were shortlisted for not one, but two prestigious awards at Insider Media’s Made in the Midlands Awards 2025 – the Manufacturing Innovation Award and Manufacturer of the Year. After a successful day at the Fire Safety Event, our Conversions team had to quickly swap their S Jones uniforms for black-tie finery! All dressed up and ready to go, the team assembled at Birmingham’s Macdonald Burlington Hotel for an unforgettable evening, where winners across all 11 award categories were set to be revealed.
A Night to Remember: The Awards Ceremony
The Made in the Midlands Awards celebrate the region’s most pioneering and forward-thinking manufacturers, recognising the products, ideas and innovations that have made a real impact over the past year.
For our team, it was a particularly special night as it was our first time attending the event. Ten members of our team joined the celebrations, including Andy Nicholls, Jenny Smith, Oliver Smith, David Price, Chris Richards, Tony Bennett, and Craig Baker from our Conversions Division, along with Sarah Green (Head of Operations), Aine Girn (Head of Marketing), and our MD, Andrew Jones. We were also proud to share the evening with two valued guests: Dr Simon Jones from Warwick Manufacturing Group, who had earlier contributed expert insight on electric battery safety during our panel discussion, and Russell Woods of Brac Engineers, our long-standing HVAC supplier, whose expertise supports many of our high-end conversion projects.
The evening began with a lively drinks reception, giving us the chance to reconnect with familiar faces from the finalists’ pre-event networking gathering. Once guests were seated, the night was officially underway and led by host PJ Ellis, a former Big Brother 3 contestant. Following a delicious three-course dinner, the atmosphere grew electric with anticipation as the time came to reveal the award winners.
And for S Jones, the wait was worth it.
And the Winner Is…
While the Manufacturer of the Year (under £25m) award was deservedly won by Hyperbat for their impressive pivot from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles, we were ecstatic to be announced as the winner of the Manufacturing Innovation Award 2025.
Being shortlisted for both categories was an honour in itself, and coming away with a win made the night even more special. The judges were impressed by the pioneering work of our conversions division in designing and delivering cutting-edge spaces housed in shipping containers. These units can be used for a number of highly specialised projects, such as abuse testing lithium-ion batteries and safely removing missile warheads.
For our Conversions team, stepping onto the stage to collect S Jones’s first award was a moment of pride. This trophy is more than just a win – it reflects our team’s collaborative spirit, innovation, and commitment to excellence. From workshop to office, everyone has played a part in this achievement, and we could not be prouder.
Looking Ahead: Made in the UK Awards 2025
Winning the Manufacturing Innovation Award also means that we now qualify for the national Made in the UK Awards, taking place on 19th June 2025 at the Titanic Hotel in Liverpool. We will be competing against eight other regional winners from across the UK, including the South West, Wales, Yorkshire, the North East, Northern Ireland, and the North West.
As we await the national final, this regional victory is already a huge milestone in the history of S Jones. Our Head of Conversions, Andy Nicholls, shared his experience and what the award meant to him:
“From start to finish, it was a great night. The team met up beforehand for a quick drink, and the buzz of everyone looking dolled up was incredible. Then it was selfies and group photos outside the hotel. We weren’t even inside the venue yet, and you could already see how much it meant to everyone.
When we arrived at the drinks reception, we had some great conversations with other companies we’d connected with at the earlier finalists’ event… There was a real buzz in the room, and everyone was excited for the awards to start. I was actually a little nervous because I really wanted to win. It’s not just about winning, but when you’re sitting in that room, it definitely changes your perspective.
When they called our name, it was one of the best moments in my career. It showed how far the company has come over the last 10 years. It also felt like the perfect way to close one chapter of our journey and the beginning of a new one, as I believe we’re now set to grow even bigger and better. Roll on the nationals!”
We are incredibly grateful to the judges for this recognition and to everyone who joined us in celebrating this exciting achievement! Our best wishes go out to all those who attended the event, and we look forward to reuniting with the other Made in the Midlands winners very soon.