Penny Engineering Named “Green Business of the Year” at the East Midlands Chamber Awards
Penny Engineering has been recognised as “Green Business of the Year” at the East Midlands Chamber Business Awards, celebrating our long‑standing commitment to sustainable manufacturing and low‑carbon operations across the region.
Green Business of the Year 2025/26
This recognition is a huge milestone for our team and highlights our commitment to making a positive impact on the environment through greener ways of working.
It’s an honour to stand alongside so many innovative companies in our region. Winning this award proves that sustainability and successful engineering can go hand in hand. For us, being "green" isn't a separate project; it’s a core value that shapes how we manufacture and support every product that leaves our facility.
Our Chairman, Robin Penny, has always pushed us to look for better, cleaner ways to work. He shares his thoughts on the win:
Sustainability can never be one person’s job; it has to run throughout the business to have any real impact. This is a great achievement by the whole team. We don’t do anything exceptional; we simply look, learn and make informed decisions, with marvellous support from the Chamber.
Robin Penny, Penny Engineering Board Chairman
How We’re Redefining Sustainable Manufacturing
We take a whole-business approach to sustainability. Currently, we save over 600 tonnes of CO₂ annually and generate approximately 325 MWh of clean energy through our rooftop solar panels. We first invested in solar back in 2014, and today we produce around half of our own electricity, sending any surplus back to the national grid.
Our commitment to the planet involves several key initiatives:
- Zero-Landfill Policy: We ensure that none of our waste ends up in a landfill, focusing instead on reuse and recycling.
- Sustainable Supply Chain: We work closely with partners who share our values, choosing eco-conscious materials across the lifecycle of our products.
- Energy-Efficient Operations: Efficient insulation, heating, equipment, and lighting all help reduce energy use while maintaining high production standards.
- Solar-Powered Fleet: Our company electric vehicles (EVs) run on the clean energy we generate right here on-site.
- ISO 14001 Certification: This international standard proves we have a high-quality system in place to manage our environmental impact.
- Net Zero Goals: We’ve joined the SME Climate Hub and are working hard to reach net-zero emissions by 2030.
We also focus on a circular economy, which means we design products to stay in use for as long as possible. Our vehicle-mounted cranes can move from one van to the next, and our goods lifts are easy to reconfigure as your business grows. If a piece of equipment eventually reaches the end of its life, we’ll bring it back to our facility to strip and recycle it.
Values That Drive Our Engineering
Longevity is a word we use a lot at Penny Engineering. It describes our products, our relationships, and our impact on the environment.
We promise to:
- Commit to sustainable progress while contributing positively to society’s wellbeing
- Make lasting, positive impacts on our local community and wider stakeholders
- Innovate with eco-conscious practices to reduce our impact on the planet
- Prioritise the longevity of the company
- Retain a diverse product portfolio to mitigate risk
Alongside trust and engineering excellence, these values guide everything we do and how we evolve. Being recognised by the East Midlands Chamber is a proud moment for our team, not just as a business but as people who care deeply about the future we’re building together.
Learn more about our values and principles that guide our work every day.
Celebrating Business Success with the East Midlands Chamber
The East Midlands Chamber connects, champions, and supports local businesses across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and Leicestershire. Their annual Business Awards celebrate organisations with exceptional achievements, and we’re thrilled to be named Green Business of the Year for Derbyshire.
Ashley Holmes, our Financial Director, shared his excitement about what this award means for our future:
We are absolutely delighted to have received the Green Business of the Year Award. This recognition is a testament to the dedication and passion of our entire team, who continually strive to make sustainability a core part of everything we do. Being recognised in this way really motivates us to keep pushing for even greater positive change, both within our company and in the wider community. We hope our efforts inspire others to take bold steps toward a greener future as well.
Ashley Holmes, Penny Engineering Financial Director
The Road to Net Zero and Beyond
Actions speak louder than words, and we’ll continue to lower our carbon footprint and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. Our team remains focused on reaching net-zero emissions by 2030 to protect our planet for the next generation.
This award serves as a powerful motivation to keep innovating. We want to show that manufacturing can be both productive and kind to the environment. If you’re looking for lifting and handling solutions that help the planet, or if you just want to talk about sustainable practices, our team is always happy to help.