Philips Avent has won the World Class Manufacturing category at the Manufacturer of the Year Awards, run by The Manufacturer magazine.

The company, which produces baby feeding bottles and other baby-related products, employs 500 people its factory at Gelmsford, near Long Melford.

The Manufacturer of the Year Awards featured 14 individual categories in addition to “The Manufacturer of the Year” overall winner.

The awards ceremony, held at The ICC in Birmingham, attracted nearly 1,000 guests from manufacturing companies and supporting organisations, a record crowd for the event.

The line-up of finalists featured businesses from nearly every sub-sector of manufacturing, with the overall title going motorsports company Xtrac, which employs around 280 staff at Thatcham in Berkshire and is recognised as a world leader in the design and manufacture of transmission systems for the motorsport, transportation, defence and marine sectors.

Runner up was beauty products maker Coty Inc, from in Ashford in Kent.

Richard Hill, head of automotive and Manufacturing at headline sponsor Royal Bank of Scotland, said: “We are delighted to be continuing our support for The Manufacturer of The Year Awards and congratulate Xtrac on its success.

“The awards ceremony is an incredible reflection of the diversity, innovation and expertise that British manufacturing has to show.

“RBS has long been involved in the manufacturing industry, with teams across the UK dedicated to supporting our manufacturing businesses.

“I’d like to congratulate all the winners for their achievements in the awards and also for their contribution to the sector as a whole.”