Oxford Instruments is named UK Exporter of the Year

Oxford Instruments has been named UK Exporter of the Year 2008.

The systems and tools provider’s executive director, Charles Holroyd, was presented with the accolade at the KPMG 2008 Business Awards earlier this month.

The company’s "utmost energy, novelty, patience and persistence" in the field of exports from the UK to China was particularly praised.

According to the company, it has an average annual growth of 50 per cent of export sales to China.

Other awards at the 48 Group Club event were presented to companies who have made outstanding contributions to developing Sino-UK business and bilateral trade in the past 12 months.

More than 1,000 guests were present including H.E. Madame Fu Ying, Chinese ambassador; minister of trade, Lord Digby Jones; Stephen Green, group chairman of HSBC Holdings; Peter Sands, chief executive of Standard Chartered.

Oxford Instruments began life in 1959 as a spin-out from Oxford University.

Since then it has expanded to become a leading provider of tools and systems for the emerging nanotechnology and bioscience markets.