Mark Hutchinson named Business Person of the Year
MARK Hutchinson, Managing Director of the Hutchinson Group, has been named Business Person of the Year at the Causeway Coast and Glens Business Awards on Friday 9th October 2015 at The Lodge Hotel, Coleraine.
The Business Person of the Year Award commends an individual, usually a business owner and/or Director who have brought benefits to their business financially or non-financially. It recognises success through innovation and risk-taking or successfully diversifying into new markets, all of which have been accomplished by Mark Hutchinson.
Speaking during the ceremony, the judges commented that the Hutchinson Group, incorporating Hutchinson Engineering, Hutchinson AeroTech and H360 showed sustained growth in jobs, turnover, profit and operations. In addition, Mark Hutchinson’s winning combination of investment, innovation, culture change, product and skill expansion and close ties with colleges and universities singled him out as exactly what the judges were looking for in the Business Person of the Year category.
The panel also commended Mark for taking part in the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards last year, which highlighted Causeway Coast and Glens as an area of innovation and success within the island of Ireland.
Mark Hutchinson explained: “I am delighted to be named Business Person of the Year, and it means so much to have been nominated alongside some of the very best. This Award would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of our team at the Hutchinson Group, and whilst it says Business Person of the Year, the Award is for the whole organisation, and I would not have won without my amazing team behind me.”
In the last year, Engineering firm SJC Hutchinson Engineering, based in Kilrea, has invested over £3.2 million through expansion and the latest laser technology, with a view to continuing its year on year growth. The latest investment saw a larger, 60,000 sq ft, manufacturing site in Kilrea with two new lasers. The family run company grew steadily throughout the recession, diversifying into the aerospace sector in 2013.
“Diversifying into the aerospace sector was key to our success at SJC Hutchinson Engineering, and Hutchinson AeroTech has been going from success to success. We also announced a new office in Birmingham to help us cater to customers in Great Britain, which helps us remain competitive. We are proud to be known for our customer service and cost effectiveness, and we plan on maintaining that excellent reputation,” concluded Mark.
Formed in 1971, SJC Hutchinson Engineering was crowned Manufacturer of the Year of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry Awards 2014, and Mark Hutchinson was a finalist in Ireland’s EY Entrepreneur of the Year, 2014 and Belfast Telegraph’s Young Businessperson of the Year 2014.
