2024 has been an exciting year at Hi-Level Mezzanines as we won Royal approval, were acclaimed for game-changing innovation, expanded our range of clients ever further, welcomed talented new starters and celebrated two of our team’s 30 years at the company!
Approved by the King
Hi-Level was immensely honoured to be presented with the King’s Award for Enterprise (KAE) in Innovation, a phenomenal achievement that demonstrates how we punch above our weight. We are remarkable for winning this exceptional award against tough competition from far larger companies – we have just 25 employees, compared to other winners with thousands of staff.
Our win recognises our “outstanding business performance and commercial success” following the invention of a piece of high-performance engineering software called IQD (Intelligent Quote Designsuite). It is innovation, technical skill and superb customer service that have earned us the loyalty of top brands including Amazon, Ocado, Tesco, ASOS, Next and DPD.
Managing Director Angus Whiteman shook hands with the King at a KAE champagne reception in Windsor Castle and we later hosted the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire at our Petersfield headquarters for the official trophy presentation, bringing together staff from across the country so everyone could share in the celebration.
Talented team
Our new starters in 2024 were Project Manager Bradley Hey, Senior Project Manager Steve Fowler and Account Manager Roisin Weir. We also have a new Draftsman and a new Structural engineer on their way, adding to the technical roles which make our team so strong.
Hi-Level superstar Samantha Blow was promoted to Production Director this year, after 30 years with the business. She joined as a summer temp when she was 16 and the rest, as they say, is history.
Our second member of staff to mark the milestone of 30 years at Hi-Level in 2024 is our Contracts Manager, Jason Alexander, while Victoria Steele-Page, our Safety, Health, Environmental and Quality Co-ordinator, and Paul Ingles our Structural Detailer both notched up ten years.
Managing Director Angus Whiteman’s thoughts
2024 has proven to be a year of both challenges and accomplishments for Hi-Level Mezzanines, as we navigated a highly competitive and volatile market. The UK economy faced numerous obstacles, including fluctuating energy prices and a change in government, which contributed to an overall sense of economic uncertainty. Despite these challenges, we have remained resilient and committed to delivering high-quality mezzanine solutions across the country.
Throughout the year, we have been proud to deliver numerous large-scale mezzanine projects to a diverse range of clients in all regions of the UK. From the South to the North, we’ve consistently met the tightest deadlines and adhered to bespoke project specifications. Our ability to deliver on time and within budget has reinforced our reputation as a reliable partner for businesses across key sectors including logistics, retail, and manufacturing. The positive feedback from our clients on these projects reflects our commitment to quality, customer service, and reliability.
While this has been a year of navigating challenges, Hi-Level Mezzanines remains optimistic about the future. As the UK economy stabilizes, we will continue to focus on innovation, operational efficiency, and maintaining strong relationships with our clients. We are confident that the strength of our brand, combined with our dedication to delivering excellence, will enable us to thrive in the years to come.
We thank our clients, partners, and employees for their continued support and hard work in helping us achieve another successful year. Here’s to a prosperous 2025!
Project highlights from 2024
The range of industries we work with has widened again this year. We have installed mezzanines for a packaging specialist, global medical device manufacturer, eco-friendly printing company, leading online pharmacy, designer and maker of handmade furniture and an industry leader in communications infrastructures for events.
The results for medical device manufacturer Sheffmed are typical of the outcomes we achieve, as our case study explains: “The new mezzanine has provided Sheffmed with all the space they need for their growing business. Being able to hold all their stock on one site has not only reduced the costs associated with offsite storage and transport back to their warehouse but also streamlined their operation. The new mezzanine floor has helped to future-proof their business with Sheffmed hoping to be in their new building for many years to come.”
As Joel Hutkai, Warehouse Manager for Sheffmed said:”I was shocked how quickly the mezzanine installation was completed! The installation teams for both the mezzanine and the fire protection were fantastic. We are very pleased with the overall product and high quality service Hi-Level have provided us.”
Another recent testimonial comes from Steve Lears, Senior Contracts Manager at IPL Design and Build: “The process of working with Hi-Level on this project has been excellent throughout. As with all our suppliers, we rely on flexibility to provide the solutions our clients require, and the mezzanine has been delivered on time and to the high standard we would expect. Hi-Level accommodated several variations that were needed during the planning stages without any issue and the installation team were extremely professional while working alongside mechanical and electrical trades in a safe and organised manner.”
Fundraising fun
When it comes to ESG (Environment, Social and Governance), we held a coffee morning to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support, enjoyed our annual fundraising Christmas Jumper Day and continued to support Petersfield Food Bank.
In the summer we visited Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust’s site at Noar Hill Nature Reserve to see how our fundraising donation is being used towards a new insect survey for the site. The timing was perfect with much of the reserve carpeted in beautiful wildflowers including a range of orchids such as the stunning pink Pyramidal Orchid. We will be working with HIWWT again in 2025 and will be sharing more details on the latest project we will be supporting in the New Year.
Prime position at IMHX
Looking forward, a highlight of 2025 is sure to be the International Material Handling Exhibition (IMHX) at the NEC in Birmingham in September. IMHX describes itself as the leading intralogistics event for professionals involved in the handling, movement or transportation of goods throughout the supply chain. It offers three days of expert-led seminars, product demos, networking events and business-building opportunities.
Our stand will be in prime position by the UK Warehousing Association (UKWA) pavilion, so very visible in the midst of all that is going on. At previous IMHX events our Sales Director Chris Baxter has taken part in panel discussions and a Power Pitch competition and he expects to be just as busy in 2025.
Outstanding year
Summing up the year ahead, Chris said: “We are looking ahead to another outstanding year at Hi-Level Mezzanines, with some exciting projects already in the pipeline, new orders on the books, plenty of challenges for our team of expert engineering problem-solvers and the prospect of more fantastic ESG work ahead.”
Talk to us about your projects for next year, we would love to be involved.
