Door Industry Journal - Summer 2017

GREEN GATE ACCESS SYSTEMS CELEBRATE DOUBLE SUCCESS AT MAIDSTONE BUSINESS AWARDS Green Gate Access Systems had an extremely successful night at the Maidstone Business Awards on Wednesday (14th June). The Kent-based company picked up two awards, winning in both the Innovation and Entrepreneur categories. In winning the Innovation category, Green Gate clearly demonstrated how to successfully bring a new idea to life – namely the SOSEC solar-powered gate and barrier system. The judging panel said that, of all the entries, Green Gate had most effectively changed its business model and adapted to changes, in order to deliver better products and services. Neil Sampson, Managing Director of Green Gate Access Systems, was awarded winner of the Entrepreneur category, demonstrating his entrepreneurial flair for achieving commercial success. The award also celebrated Neil’s clear plans and strategies for the growth of his business, and the strong track record of innovation. Green Gate’s success is particularly notable, given that the awards came exactly a year after a destructive fire destroyed its previous premises and all its possessions. The awards were judged by Jane Ollis (Chair of IoD Kent), Dawn Beckham (Senior Account Manager at Heart FM Kent), Jacqui Offen (Director of JJ Systems) and Laurie Philp (Producer Director at Smugshot Videos). Neil said: “It’s a huge honour to win these two awards, especially as there were so many other deserving entrants within the categories. To win is recognition of the hard work and innovation that Green Gate is putting in to make sustainable security and traffic control solutions. “I started the business with my wife back in 2006 – initially operating out of a bedroom in the family home. Eleven years later - it’s a fantastic feeling to be recognised for the work that we do and winning these business accolades to prove it. In the twelve months that have passed since the fire, we have worked hard to reverse the damage and grow our business; that makes this a worthy celebration.” Jacqui Offen, Director at J & J Systems, said: “After 20 years in business, this is a wonderful event to be involved with. The quality of all the candidates was high, but the Green Gate application stood out as an exceptional business – continually developing, working hard on all commercial aspects, business structure, entrepreneurialism, team building and community work. All of this headed by an exceptional leader in Neil: a worthy winner for both categories.” Green Gate Access Systems developed its SOSEC range of products to answer a growing need to provide public safety and work site security, where power provision is not practical, but security and safety demands are high. Its mobility, durability and flexibility in a single easy-to-deliver platform made it one of the most talked about products at Traffex 2017, the UK’s leading highways industry event held this month (4 to 6 April) at the NEC, Birmingham. Green Gate has recently secured sales in Australia, thereby expanding into the global market within just 18 months. THE door industry journal summer 2017 Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk 35 industry news PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS FOR JUST £35! Low Cost and Free Publicity - You can benefit from some help in promoting your business, its products and services on the Door Industry Journal Blog at an incredibly low price (typically £35) towards our page creation and layout costs. But if you advertise with us, you will receive the publicity absolutely free of charge (see below). Extra benefits for our advertisers - If you take display advertising or product and literature features in our printed and online publications, you will also qualify for regular free postings on the Door Industry Journal Blog while you continue to advertise with us. Email your articles to: mail@doorindustryjournal.co.uk Visit our Blog to see the kind of publicity we provide: blog.doorindustryjournal.co.uk BLOGGING