AN INNOVATIVE firm won national acclaim as it took the crown for best business exporter at recent awards.

Playdale Playgrounds was announced the winner of the national business exporter of the year award at the Federation of Small Businesses Worldpay UK Business Awards. 

More than 1000 small to medium businesses registered for the awards and Playdale was shortlisted along with three other companies for the exporter of the year award. 

The FSB Worldpay UK Business Awards seek to celebrate the very best of small businesses in the UK and their successes throughout the year. 

Playdale fought off competition from three major players: Electronic Temperature Instruments, British Corner Shop and Primeast Ltd.

The event took place at the QU II conference centre in London and was hosted by Tim Campbell MBE, first winner of television series The Apprentice and founder of the Bright Ideas Trust. 

Playdale's managing director, Barry Leahey, and chairman, John Croasdale, were on hand to receive the award which was presented by the FSB's national vice-chairwoman, Sandra Dexter. 

The family-run firm from Haverthwaite specialises in the design and construction of playground equipment and now have distribution contracts in 24 countries and are on track to reach more than 40 international markets in the next two years.

Playdale's exporting story began at the start of the recession when its fortunes started to slump alongside the British economy. 

Against all the odds, the small company fought back and decided to expand into international markets in order to sustain the business. 

Now it is going from strength to strength, securing contracts in every corner of the globe and putting smiles on the faces of thousands of children across the world. 

Barry Leahey, managing director of Playdale, was delighted to be named the winner and believes it is a fitting tribute to team. 

He said: “To be shortlisted is a fantastic achievement in itself but to then be announced winner is something else. 

"The Playdale team efforts to deliver products globally has been recognised at not just county and regional level, but now at a national level too. 

"What a testament to all the hard work and dedication that all of the Playdale Playgrounds team has put into developing our business internationally over the past few years.”