MGS Technical Plastics has earned the coveted title of Company of the Year at the 2026 Northern Automotive Alliance Awards. The Lancashire business also won the People and Skills category, plus two high commendations in the Manufacturing Excellence and Environmental & Sustainability awards.
Recognising overall business performance, the Company of the Year accolade is awarded to the business achieving the highest scores across all categories. MGS swept the board winning two awards and two high commendations in total during the ceremony, which was hosted at Crewe Hall in Cheshire on 10 September 2026.
Driven by a 2026 management buyout and £2 million reinvestment, MGS has evolved from a traditional injection moulding business into a full-service technical plastics partner. The company achieved 18% year-on-year growth, while the introduction of a new toolroom, energy-efficient electric machinery and automated MES tracking, together with partnerships with local suppliers, has helped to build a highly resilient supply chain that supports long-term commercial stability.
Several months ago, MGS announced the strategic restructuring of its overall business, creating separate plastics manufacturing and tooling divisions. The new structure was initiated to streamline operations and improve customer service.
External market engagement and targeted digital campaigns validated the value of this approach. In the first quarter of 2026, these activities directly secured 16 of the company’s 40 requests for quotations.
Commercial Director Mark Preston collected the trophy alongside Chairman Neil Garrity, crediting the entire team for the momentous win. Speaking at the event, which was attended by members and leaders of the region’s automotive community, Mark said: “To win the Company of the Year means a great deal to MGS. This accolade in particular demonstrates wider confidence in our overarching vision and how important it is for businesses to continually invest in team members and people development.”
MGS’s Grow from Within culture has been especially successful. By aligning talent attraction, employee development and leadership progression with operational metrics, the company has developed a framework that measures individual success and its direct impact on business performance.
For example, female representation at MGS stands at 39.3%, which is 11% higher than the UK manufacturing average. This demonstrated to the NAA judges how the company is building a resilient talent pipeline.
The judges highlighted MGS’s efforts in continuous innovation, operational excellence and strong growth across the plastic injection moulding and automotive supply chain sectors.
MGS has also been shortlisted at the Make UK North West Regional Awards. The winners will be announced Thursday 15 October 2026.
