Sheffield specialist engineering group SCX has been awarded a Lloyds Bank National Business Award for Innovation.

SCX specialises in lifting solutions and large moving structures, and the honour follows pioneering work on the world's first dividing retractable football pitch at Tottenham Hotspur's new stadium and two retractable roofs for the All England Lawn Tennis Club at Wimbledon.

The company, based in Wincobank, Sheffield, is also renowned for its bespoke mechanical handling solutions and electrical control systems in safety-critical sectors such as nuclear, defence and aerospace.

Nine hundred delegates from some of the country's most successful businesses, public sector bodies, charities and educational establishments attended the Lloyds Bank National Business Awards ceremony.

Sarah Austin, awards director at Informa Markets, said: "The innovation category showcases the leading technologies and transformational business processes that lead the way into the future, globally and here in the UK.

"Each year we're blown away by the talent and ambition of all our entrants. To be shortlisted is a huge achievement – to be crowned a winner is to truly be the best of British business!"

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Darren Falkingham, group marketing manager at SCX, collected the award. He said: "This is our biggest award yet, and one that means so much to us.

"It's down to the truly world-class teams here at SCX that we can compete and win on a national stage. This award recognises and proves their engineering expertise, their commitment and their natural ability to innovate.

"It also takes SCX to the next level. We are looking to expand our work both in the UK and in new overseas markets, and already have numerous projects in the pipeline.

"Winning this award underlines that we're more than ready to take that step."

The prize was presented to SCX by BBC News presenter Simon McCoy, accompanied by King's College director Julie Devonshire OBE, at the Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane.

The company's bespoke engineering arm, SCX Special Projects, delivered two international-standard contracts this year.

Earlier in 2019 it revealed the world's first dividing retractable grass pitch for Tottenham Hotspur, which sits on rails above an artificial surface for NFL American football and other events.

It also designed, engineered and installed a retractable roof for Wimbledon No.1 Court – ten years after its similar roof for Centre Court – to guarantee play whatever the weather.

Meanwhile, in other sectors, the company has fitted cranes to the Royal Navy's latest aircraft carriers, designed decommissioning cranes for the Dounreay nuclear power plant and developed robotic lifting platforms for London's Crossrail project.

The SCX group continues to grow its international reputation, especially through its SCX Special Projects division, which is seeing growing overseas demand for its ground-breaking techniques.

The group has over 160 employees across three divisions – SCX Special Projects, crane servicing and repair firm Street CraneXpress and Burnand XH, which specialises in electronic, electrical, electromechanical and pneumatic control components.

(MH/JG)

SCX group marketing manager Darren Falkingham is pictured centre with King's College director Julie Devonshire OBE and BBC News presenter Simon McCoy.