A HALE-based businessman has scooped one of the nation’s top industry accolades.

Neil Sheppard, 34, of Hale Road, was handed the Best Procurement Consultancy Project of the Year award at the annual Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management Awards Ceremony in London, in recognition of the work of his company, Customs Connect.

Beating stiff competition from larger competitors, the Customs Connect directors were handed the prize in front of 1100 onlookers at a star-studded ceremony in London’s swanky Park Lane Grosvenor House Hotel.

“We were considerably smaller than all the other businesses up for the award,” said Neil.

“Those companies have hundreds, even thousands of employees, while there are three of us in Customs Connect.”

Neil and Customs Connect were up against industry giants Efficio and Network Rail Infrastructure Projects, epi Consulting and BT, and SpringTide Consulting and DS Smith in the final shortlist of four.

Alongside Customs Connect co-director, James O’Neill, 34, Neil’s work aided global names such as Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) to ensure they kept full compliance with, and correct payments of, import customs duty liability.

Neil says keeping things local is key to his Salford Quays-based business’ ethos,”Our website, designs, promotional videos; we keep everything local.”