Hornchurch & Upminster MP, Julia Lopez, celebrated International Trade Week by presenting a Queen's Award to Harold Wood business, Silverhook, for their work in exporting high-quality British products.

Silverhook is one of the largest independent manufacturers of automotive lubricants, oils, and chemicals in the UK. The company was established in 1994, and is run by brothers John, Peter and Michael Iszatt. It has gained a reputation throughout the automotive industry for providing quality products and an exceptional standard of service, and now exports its products across the world. 

It was while Julia and her team worked with Silverhook on a number of casework issues that the Department for International Trade (DIT) suggested putting the company forward for a Queen’s Award for Enterprise. To the manufacturer’s surprise, their bid was successful and the company has become one of just 226 organisations nationally to be recognised for excellence in international trade.

Now in its 56th year, the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are the most prestigious business awards in the country, with winning businesses able to use the esteemed Queen’s Awards Emblem for the next five years. 

The company was presented with a certificate by Havering’s Deputy Lieutenant, Nick Bracken OBE DL, King Charles’ representative in the borough, and a commemorative glass bowl by Mrs Lopez as the firm’s local MP. 

Mrs Lopez said, ‘International Trade Week is DIT’s biggest exporting event and provides a great chance to showcase and celebrate local businesses that export fantastic British products to the world. It was a pleasure to see Havering’s Silverhook recognised for its excellence through a Queen’s Award for International Trade, and I was really glad to be able to celebrate their successes with the Deputy Lieutenant and Silverhook’s hard working team.’