Caterpillar UK Building Construction Products Receives Queen’s Award

The Award is the highest official UK award for British businesses and recognises Caterpillar’s increasing contribution to UK exports. As part of the Award, Caterpillar was also acknowledged for outstanding achievement in improving environmental and social responsibilities, which included the "ZERO to Landfill" program and various volunteering events in the community.

Caterpillar was able to sharply increase export of Backhoe Loaders out of the UK after production for Centre Pivot models, built predominantly for the Americas, was concentrated with the production of the Sideshift models in the Desford facility in 2009. This move combined with a strong market rebound after the financial crisis of 2008 resulted in a sharp increase in export of Backhoe Loaders out of the UK, and a new skills academy and apprentice scheme were set up to meet the increasing demands on the facility.

“We are honoured to receive this prestigious Award. I want to thank our dedicated employees whose commitment and professionalism are the foundation of our success”, said Caterpillar UK BCP’s General Manager Silvana Godelaine. “I also take this Award as acknowledgement of our successful efforts to enhance competitiveness of our production and manufacturing facilities in the UK”, she added.

Caterpillar is one of the largest 50 foreign employers investing in the UK according to The Sunday Times. The company employs more than 9,000 people in 20 UK facilities and exports a very large part of its production. 

About Caterpillar UK Building 
Construction Products Caterpillar’s Building Construction Products manufacturing facility at Desford near Leicester is dedicated to the assembly of small construction machines, typically used on building and construction sites - Backhoe Loaders and Compact Wheel Loaders. Constructed in 1952, this facility was Caterpillar’s first venture outside the United States. The Desford assembly plant gets all the cut, welded and machined major structures for use in its construction machines from the Caterpillar Building Construction Products' fabrication facility at Stockton-on-Tees. Since 2012 the Desford facility only uses electric energy from renewable energy sources.
 
About Caterpillar in the United Kingdom 
The UK is one of the largest manufacturing bases for Caterpillar outside the US, and our UK businesses export a significant portion of their manufactured products to a wide variety of customers and markets. Today, the company employs over 9,000 people in 20 facilities in the UK. For more information, visit our UK pages on caterpillar.com.