The company was judged the best for steering its way to an impressive £2m annual turnover and for and for recently winning work with Modec and for LDV’s flagship Maxus vehicle.

There is even talk of establishing a Russian assembly plant to help b2 supply direct into the van maker’s owners GAZ.

Employing 100 staff at its Highgate Street site in Birmingham, Barkley Plastics, was announced as the Large SME award winner after heavily investing in more efficient machinery, diversifying into other markets, increasing its turnover and boosting staff qualifications.

Meanwhile Cannock’s Key Precision Ltd caught the judging panel’s eye in the Small SME category after dramatically reducing lead time from seven days to two-and-a-half in one year and boosting turnover from £280,000 to more than £400,000 in the same period.

Rachel Eade, Programme Manager for Accelerate, was delighted with the event:

“This evening is about celebrating who we are and what we mean to the manufacturing industry in the heart of the UK.”

She added: “Last year we celebrated the past and the history and experiences that make us who we are today. Tonight we celebrate the great classics, the automotive legends that have stood the test of time illustrating the critical role played by the West Midlands’ supplier chain industry.

“This ethos is crucial to the success of our industry and these characteristics are still as important today as they ever were.”

Other awards went to Halesowen’s Rieter Automotive GB Ltd in the environmental category, Birmingham’s Radshape Sheet Metal Ltd for People Development and Bridgnorth’s Grainger and Worrall for Export.

A Partnership category recognising manufacturers working together was won by Midlands Assembly Network – a collaboration of nine separate companies each with its own speciality.

Brierley Hill’s Eaton Automotive Ltd meanwhile was honoured with the Supplier Development award for the way it has helped to manage and grow business with its key UK suppliers.

Managed by Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and funded by ERDF, Accelerate used the Awards as a platform to celebrate the can-do mentality of the West Midlands automotive industry supply chain.

Full List of Winners

Best of the Best: B2 Automotive Components Ltd

Small SME: Key Precision Ltd

Large SME: Barkley Plastics

Export: Worrall & Grainger

Environmental: Rieter Automotive GB Ltd.

Supplier Development: Eaton Automotive

Partnership/Collaboration Midlands Assembly Network

Best of Region Accolades

Birmingham: Barkley Plastics Ltd

Black Country: Rieter Automotive GB Ltd

Coventry & Warwickshire: B2 Automotive Components Ltd

Staffordshire: Key Precision Ltd

West Mercia: Grainger & Worrall