A SOUTH Lakeland businessman has scooped a prestigious prize at the North West Directors of the Year Awards.

Peter Barton, of Forge Europa, was named International Director of the Year in the competition, run by the Institute of Directors (IoD) in the North West.

Mr Barton, founder and chief executive of Ulverston-based Forge Europa, said he was delighted to win the award and paid tribute to the efforts of his “excellent team” of staff.

He has led Forge Europa to the forefront both nationally and internationally in low-energy, solid-state lighting.

The firm’s investment in research and development, coupled with a priority to build, develop and empower the Forge Europa team, is said to have resulted in excellent standards of customer service and an increase of more than 75 per cent in turnover over a two-year period.

Forge Europa designs, develops, manufactures and supplies standard and bespoke LED (light emitting diode) lighting assemblies, lamps, and displays.

The firm has supplied products to customers in no fewer than 34 different countries worldwide in the past year alone.