Colchester firm Cloudfm bestowed with prestigious Queen’s Award for innovation | Gazette

HONOURED staff at a ground-breaking facilities management firm were presented with one of the most prestigious commercial awards in the country.

Cloudfm, based on Colchester’s Severalls Industrial estate, was bestowed with a Queen’s Award for enterprise by the Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Jennifer Tolhurst.

Mrs Tolhurst was joined by the Vice Lord Lieutenant Vincent Thompson and the mayor and mayoress of Colchester, Nick and Elizabeth Cope.

Cloudfm scooped the top accolade for its technology-led innovation and contribution to the facilities management industry.

It is the first time a maintenance company has been honoured for innovation in a decade.

The guests enjoyed a tour of the Cloudfm campus, taking in its innovation centre, operations hub, training academy and headquarters. The campus employs more than 150 people.

Cloudfm’s award-winning innovation was delivered through its IT development programme. Earlier this year, the firm formed a partnership with the University of Essex under the Government’s innovation agency, Innovate UK.

The two organisations are working together to research and develop state-of-the-art Artificial Intelligence capabilities.

This technology is already being trialled with a number of Cloudfm’s clients to help enhance the way businesses manage their buildings.

Jeff Dewing, chief executive of Cloudfm, was delighted to be the one to accept the award on behalf of the firm.

He said: “It is a huge honour to be celebrating our Queen’s Award win at our offices with such special guests and our staff.

“At Cloudfm, we are committed to continually innovating our ground-breaking technology and processes to promote the right behaviour and restore faith in our industry.

“This award coincides with our ambitious IT development programme, which will see us realise our goal to provide the most proactive and efficient facilities management solution in the market.”

Cloudfm’s client list includes some of the world’s leading brands such as KFC, Pizza Express, the Guardian Media Group and Westminster Central Hall.

The firm is the only company in Essex to succeed, winning in the small business of the year category.

Managing director Andy Smith said: “We cannot wait to attend finals night where will be the sole representative from Essex. I am crossing my fingers we can take home the national prize to Colchester.”