Aico Crowned Champion of Champions at Prestigious Shropshire Chamber Business Awards 2025
Aico, the European market leader in home life safety, is proud to announce it has been awarded the prestigious “Champion of Champions” title at the 2025 Shropshire Chamber Business Awards. This honour was specially created to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the awards, recognising the ultimate “best of the best” among all past winners of the esteemed Company of the Year award.
The Champion of Champions award, judged on a rigorous set of criteria including progress, leadership, innovation, community impact, diversity and inclusion, and sustainability, is a resounding testament to Aico’s unwavering commitment to excellence since its initial Company of the Year win in 2020.
Aico expressed immense pride in the achievement, recognising that being named the Champion of Champions is an incredible honour and a true reflection of the dedication and hard work of every single person within the company. This award celebrates their significant growth and performance, in addition to their deep-rooted commitment to the community, innovation, and their leading efforts in sustainability. It’s particularly special as it acknowledges their journey since first winning Company of the Year, highlighting the lasting impact they make.
Since its first Company of the Year win, Aico has demonstrated unprecedented growth and solidified its position as one of Shropshire’s most successful businesses, having now won the Company of the Year title an unparalleled three times.
The judging panel recognised Aico’s outstanding performance across all key areas. This included the progress made since being named Company of the Year, where Aico’s consistent growth, expansion, and market leadership since 2020 showcased a clear trajectory of continuous improvement and success. Their strong leadership and performance were also highlighted by a values-led, people-first culture, where all senior roles are filled through internal promotion. The company’s exceptional customer service, handling over 100,000 enquiries in 2024 with a 99.93% accuracy rate, underscored its operational excellence. Furthermore, Aico’s deep engagement with suppliers and stakeholders to support the local community was evident; rooted in Oswestry, they’ve engaged over 17,000 students through education programs. The team’s significant volunteer efforts and charitable donations, exceeding £1.3 million with over £500,000 dedicated to local causes, demonstrated a profound commitment to Shropshire’s economic and social growth. Their dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion, and commitment to sustainability also greatly impressed the judges. With inclusive recruitment practices and leadership in sustainability, including a Net-Zero pledge by 2030, solar panel usage supplying nearly half of their energy, a hybrid/electric fleet, and extensive biodiversity initiatives on their seven-acre site. Finally, Aico’s innovation in products, processes, and services to drive the business forward was key, exemplified by the success of the HomeLINK IoT platform. Their internal Launchpad scheme, empowering colleagues to submit and implement over 200 ideas, further showcased a culture of continuous improvement from within.
Neal Hooper, Managing Director at Aico, commented on the win: “This award is a true honour and a reflection of the hard work, passion, and dedication of our entire team. It recognises that everything we do is with a commitment to excellence, innovation, and support for our community. We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved and are excited for the future.”
To explore Aico’s award-winning innovations, community initiatives, and commitment to safer homes, visit our website.
