A healthcare manufacturer from West Sussex, who won its biggest ever order to supply 300 operating tables to Iraq, a Sheffield based company which increased exports by 700% during the recession and a food manufacturer in Somerset who reduced its waste to landfill by 80%, are among the winners of the first national Future Manufacturing Awards announced by EEF, the manufacturers' organisation.

The EEF Future Manufacturing Awards, launched last year are designed to recognise excellence in four categories: innovation, enterprise, environmental responsibility and skills development. They are intended to reward world class performance and celebrate the excellence which exists throughout manufacturing.

Following the regional awards, which took place in November all the regional winners met in London"s Dorchester in February for the national awards ceremony hosted by Declan Curry, presenter of BBC Two’s Working Lunch.

Newly appointed chief executive of EEF Terry Scuoler said: "Manufacturers make a valuable contribution to the UK economy. EEF Awards programme proves that even in the toughest economic conditions UK manufacturers continue to break down barriers, reinvent the rules and reach out for new opportunities. We have a manufacturing industry we can all be proud of and should celebrate it more.”

Chair of the Judging panel Professor Steve Evans, Professor of Life Cycle Engineering at Cranfield University said it was important to showcase the best in manufacturing after a year of negative headlines for the sector.