Nantwich firm Direct Access has won two prestigious awards for exporting British expertise in accessibility.
Both awards were won on the same night in different countries and follows on from director Steven Mifsud’s MBE in the Queen’s birthday honours in June.
Insider North West International Trade Award – Team of the Year category for companies achieving something exceptional in the international trade field.
The judges remarked on Direct Access breaking into the United States market for the first time.
This included winning a state-wide contract to supply evacuation chairs in Utah, working with local communities in Vermont to create the state’s first ever Rural Accessibility Guide advising businesses on access improvements and with Native Indian communities.
On the same night, at the Franco-British Trade & Investment Awards 2021, the firm won the Jury award for contribution to trade and investment.
Direct Access was praised for its role in identifying and working with new French partners to develop and deliver transport accessibility programmes in regional cities in France and creating opportunities with the next Olympic games, Paris 2024.
Chief Operations Officer Steve Dering said: “We were delighted to win the Jury’s award at the Franco British Trade and Investment Award.
“Over the past year we have developed innovative partnerships to create inclusive environments in France for disabled people.
“Organisations are no longer interested in just complying with their country’s building design code. There is a real desire to go beyond and draw on international best practice.
“Our clients in the UK value the depth of innovation that we are able to draw on which has seen Direct Access also expand in the UK with two new staff joining in December working on a variety of projects from rail infrastructure to education and heritage programmes.”
“The irony is such is the level of our international success meant I was not able to attend
either award event,” said director Steven Mifsud, who is currently in the Middle East working on accessibility programmes for the world exposition Expo 2020 Dubai.
“We are looking forward to 2022 and increasing our presence in Nantwich with new offices just off Barony Park.”
