Viscount De L'Isle, Lord Lieutenant of Kent, presents the Queen's Award to Bill Hoffman, founder of Sleev-it Fire Systems in Rainham

by business editor Trevor Sturgess

tsturgess@thekmgroup.co.uk

A fire protection specialist firm has been formally presented with the Queen's Award for International Trade.

Sleev-it Fire Systems, based in Rainham, designs, manufactures and supplies fire penetration collars and seals to the construction and marine industries.

Markets in Europe, the United States and the Far East have helped double turnover to £3.25m, 80% earned overseas.

The firm was one of five – a record – honoured by the Queen for enterprise this year.

At a special ceremony this week, the Lord Lieutenant of Kent Viscount De L'Isle paid tribute to the firm's success before presenting a glass trophy to the firm's founder Bill Hoffman. He met staff during a guided tour of the company's plant.