Pall-Ex is celebrating, having won the ‘Technology in Business’ category at the Growing Business Awards, organised annually by the CBI and Real Business magazine.

Sponsored by Dell UK, the award identifies and celebrates companies that have put technology at the heart of their business in the last year – and seen improved performance, including increased sales and profits, as a result. The judges were looking for companies that have been galvanised and transformed by the effective use of information and communications technology.

Throughout its ten year history Pall-Ex has used technology to give itself the edge in a highly competitive market. The company has designed, developed and implemented its own bespoke IT system – Pall-IT – and, in the last year, has been introducing advanced online track and trace facilities to provide the most up-to-date information to customers on the progress of their consignments.

The Awards were presented in front of 700 attendees at a black-tie gala dinner at the London Hilton on Park Lane. The ceremony was compered by William Hague MP and guests included world class entrepreneurs such as Charles Dunstone, John Madejski, Sir Peter Rigby, Sir Anthony Bamford, Lord Graham Kirkham and the entire cast of BBC2’s Dragons’ Den. The judging panel included the Go! airline founder and London Olympics bid winner, Barbara Cassani, as well as Fru Hazlitt (Virgin Radio), Peter Linthwaite (British Venture Capital Association), David Storey (Warwick Business School), Gerard Burke (Cranfield School of Management) and Bob Jones (Equiinet).

Hilary Devey said: “We have put so much effort and dedication into our Pall-IT and track and trace systems and it is wonderful to see that commitment being recognised and rewarded at a national level. I would like to thank Kamal Chudasama, our IT Manager, for his hard work in keeping Pall-IT at the cutting edge of technology and Derek Beevor of Roadtech Systems for his contribution in integrating his track and trace technology with our bespoke system. It is a truly worthwhile cooperation which is bringing tangible benefits to our customers.”

Hilary herself was also a finalist for the Entrepreneur of the Year Award.