A LOWESTOFT firm held up as “an outstanding example” of a company balancing the needs of its business with those of the local community has scooped a national accolade.

A LOWESTOFT firm held up as “an outstanding example” of a company balancing the needs of its business with those of the local community has scooped a national accolade.

Pilot Drilling Control Ltd, a member of the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, lifted the Award for Performance through People at the Chamber Awards 2007.

The award, sponsored by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), recognised the company's “outstanding approach” to employee development, which was described as a major contributing factor to its overall success.

Awards judges were particularly impressed by the company's investment in young people.

The award winners were announced at a gala dinner at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London on Thursday .

Liz Deakin, national employer service relationship manager at the LSC, said Pilot Drilling Control was a small company of 15 people which demonstrated “a positive approach” to developing its workforce from the shop floor right through to management level.

“They are an outstanding example of a company balancing the needs of its business with those of the local community,” she said.

“They offer placements to support with mathematics education and they are going into schools to demonstrate how rewarding a career in engineering can be. Pilot Drilling Control Ltd is a role model for others to follow.”

Peter Mileham, president of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), congratulated the firm for having the foresight to be “so progressive” in its strategic skills and workforce development.

The award was one of nine handed out at the ceremony.

The Outstanding Business Achievement award went to potato chip manufacturer Tyrrells Potato Chips of Hereford and Worcestershire, which also scooped the Green Award. It took home a cash prize of £50,000, courtesy of RBS Group.

The Achievement in International Business went to wire joining and tensioning manufacturer Gripple Ltd of Sheffield; The Impact of Technology on your Business (less than 50 staff) went to fire stopping and barrier systems providers CVD Fire Protection of Lanarkshire, while the Impact of Technology on your Business (more than 50 staff) went to online flower and gift firm Flowers Direct of Northern and Western Lancashire; The Stelios Award for Disabled Entrepreneur of the Year went to air tour operator for the visually impaired Amar Latif. The Most Promising New Business was supply chain integrator for aerospace engineering firms Aerogistics Holdings Ltd of Liverpool. Geoffrey Davis of agricultural and vegetation control machinery manufacturer Alamo Group Europe of Shropshire took the Entrepreneur of the Year title. The Business of the Year award went to north-east pipeline products manufacturers Wellstream International Ltd.

Mr Mileham said: “Winning a regional award is tough enough given the very high calibre of entries we see every year. Winning a national prize takes something very special indeed. Every one of our winners stands out for their achievement, innovation and contribution to the economy and their community.”