The official presentation took place last week (15 October) at Brigade’s engineering facility in Dartford, Kent, when founder and chairman Chris Hanson-Abbott was presented with the scroll and commemorative vase by Lord Lieutenant Viscount De L’Isle (pictured).
Formed in 1976, Brigade Electronics introduced the first reversing alarm into the UK. Since then, the company has continued to develop a range of products which are now sold across the world. It has a workforce of 200 and exports account for two-thirds of its £50 million annual turnover.
Hanson-Abbott formed the business after hearing a prototype reversing alarm on a truck in Tokyo, gaining permission to import the system into Europe.
Brigade’s latest product, the Quiet Vehicle Sounder, is designed to counter what Hanson-Abbott calls “the silent menace” – electric or hybrid vehicles. The acoustic vehicle alerting system mimics IC engine noise to warn other road users when the vehicle is approaching.
Chris Hanson-Abbott says: “It has been a fantastic journey and we are incredibly proud to have received such a prestigious award in recognition of our international trade which, over the years, has grown exponentially as safety both on the road and within the working environment becomes an ever increasing priority.”