ANDREW Sparrow talked about the history of Fenland Leisure Products, overall winner of the inaugural Fenland Enterprise Business Awards, and encouraged businesses to enter this year's awards at Wednesday's launch.

WHEN Andrew Sparrow was made redundant in 1992 he formed Fenland Fabrication in some old farm buildings on a budget of just �500.

Eighteen years on, Fenland Fabrication is now Fenland Leisure Products, or FLP to some, and has an annual turnover of �2.8million.

It was this success that saw FLP, of Christchurch, crowned the overall Business of the Year at the inaugural Fenland Enterprise Business Awards.

Mr Sparrow told guests at last Wednesday's 2010 launch: "Our history and success have proven that from small acorns large oak trees can grow.

"In our opinion, slow stable growth is an essential ingredient to any successful business."

FLP now employs 26 staff at its site in Padgett's Road. It manufactures more than 80 per cent of its own products on-site and sources materials from across the world.

Its customer base ranges from the Ministry of Defence to pre-schools across the country.

The company also won the Environment and Community Impact award at the inaugural awards, but Mr Sparrow said that winning the overall award last year increased interest and awareness on a local and national scale.

He added: "It increased staff morale, the team's enthusiasm to grow FLP and to continually make improvements. So much so, we are now working towards a Quality Management Standard and an Environmental Management Standard.

"The awards have been fantastic for us - and I feel every business in Fenland should make the most of the opportunity to enter this year and raise awareness of the brilliant work they do.