CONTRACTS do not get much bigger than the one sealed by Simon Jersey which won the firm the Deal of the Year award.

The Altham workwear and uniform manufacturer signed a deal with one of the world’s most prestigious airlines – Emirates – which will see it design and supply 23,000 uniforms for staff.

In doing so it struck a blow for East Lancashire’s designers as they saw off the challenge of some of Europe’s top fashion houses.

A delighted Neil Boston, Simon Jersey’s sales and marketing director, said the award was recognition of all the work put in by staff to make sure they got the contract.

He added: “This is fantastic because we worked so hard for two years on this project.

“It is gratifying that a down to earth East Lancashire town has achieved this award and shown that it can be an epicentre for design and innovation in the process.

“This contract shows that the expertise does exist in the area.”

The multi-million pound deal is the biggest in the company’s 37-year history.

The final decision to pick Simon Jersey was signed off by head of the Dubai royal family, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is also prime minister of the country.

Mr Boston added: “Companies such as Emirates usually go to big fashion houses which they want to be linked to their brand.

“In the end though, we were recognised as having the design expertise to deliver what they wanted.

“We have a talented design and development team and I simply believe we were best suited to the needs of the Emirate’s brand and what they were looking for.”

As part of the tender process involved in securing the deal, Simon Jersey created a division devoted to tailoring which will be permanently based in Dubai and now has eight full-time tailors working over there.

The company also staged a special fashion show at its Altham base to showcase the designs it had created.

The sheer size of the deal and the work put in by Simon Jersey to secure the contract swung the judges’ decision in the company’s favour.