HOUGHTON-based exporter Le Mark has won another award for overseas trade – and its managing director even has a good word to say for its bankers. Former Hunts Post Business Awards winner Le Mark, which recently moved from St Ives to bigger premises at Hou

HOUGHTON-based exporter Le Mark has won another award for overseas trade - and its managing director even has a good word to say for its bankers.

Former Hunts Post Business Awards winner Le Mark, which recently moved from St Ives to bigger premises at Houghton Hill industrial estate, was Eastern regional runner-up in the HSBC-sponsored 2009 international trade awards, just losing out to ARM Holdings.

Le Mark Group is recognised as one of the UK's premier innovators and manufacturers of specialist self-adhesive and self-fusing silicone based sealing products and accessories. It is particularly proud of the success of a tape specially designed for sub-zero winter temperatures in eastern Europe and its tie-up with Moscow's fire department.

International Trade chairman of the judges Ian Campbell said Le Mark had been a very strong competitor, having demonstrated a high level of achievement in the arena of international trade.

Le Mark managing director Stuart Gibbons, a former chairman of Huntingdonshire Chamber of Commerce and now vice-chairman of the regionally-based export group Global Trade Network, commented: "Le Mark is a typical SME in size, so being benchmarked and judged against such prestigious winners as Arm Holdings PLC has focused us all on what we as a company can achieve. We know that 2010 will be a challenging year, but this nomination will ensure we drive the business even harder to ensure we reach our full potential."

Mr Gibbons added that the award was a tribute to the firm's philosophy of recruiting native speakers, including employees from Eastern Europe who regularly use their language skills to talk to customers in Poland, Russia and Latvia.

"This project continued to evolve when Le Mark recently played host to visiting fire officer clients from EMERCOM, Moscow's fire and rescue division, for which Le Mark developed a special super-tough all-weather self-fusing tape that will work in the extreme cold of a Russian winter."

He said: "Despite difficult global trading conditions, Le Mark continued on its expansion plans, building new premises, developing new products and increasing market share. I believe that this region, and in particular Huntingdon, continues to produce some of the best business.

"Despite the well-documented recession there continue to be opportunities for companies who were prepared to take the challenge and seek out export opportunities. To do this each SME needs to show an entrepreneurial 'X- Factor': winning this nomination I believe proves we definitely have it."

He also praised the bank for its contribution to Le Lark's success.

"While some banks have received very bad press during the last 18 months, I want most sincerely to thank HSBC, who have advised and supported us in both our export and UK efforts. Without a doubt, we could not have enjoyed this year's business success without their full and proactive support."

It was Le Mark's second export award in 2009, having won the UKTI Passport to Export Trade Award 2009 - for the Most Effective International Communications in November.

The latest award was presented to Stuart Gibbons, second left, by Lord Digby Jones, left. Also pictured are (back) David Earp from East of England International, Matt Every, Le Mark's export manager, and Vic Annells, international trade director of UKTI East of England.