WINNING the award for Best Small Business topped off a great year for design and fabrication company DP Structures.

The company, based in Burnley, has just celebrated its best, busiest and most successful 12 months to date, building among other creations, the chalets for the Manchester Christmas markets.

Managing director David Palmer said winning the award, which was presented by Hyndburn Enterprise Trust chairman Tony Dobson, was testament to all of the hard work the staff put in.

He said: “This is really great for the team and it feels really good to win.

“We won the Burnley small business of the year award and now we have this one.

“DP Designs is a varied business and some of what we do does seem a bit weird and a bit incredible, but we do a lot of good stuff.

“It has finally dawned on people that the Manchester markets are made in Burnley and it means that I have had to do interviews with Radio Lancashire, the BBC and ITV.

“But then we won this award which is just brilliant.”

The 10-man team, which works from a 13,000 square foot factory in Barden Lane, consists of highly experienced designers, fabricators and constructors, who create bespoke solutions, structures and products to meet customers’ specific requirements.

DP Structures Ltd’s unique selling point is that it provides a full service, from the development of visionary, conceptual ideas and technical designs, as well as planning and building regulation service, through to the manufacture and installation of architectural structures.

Mr Palmer, who has 30 years of experience in the industry, said the ethos provided clients with ‘the complete solution’.

That experience has allowed the company to expand its portfolio over recent years into producing bespoke public realm works and major public art commissions.

And the future is also looking positive for the company.

Mr Palmer, a skilled fabricator, engineer, visual artist and technical designer, said the award would help raise the profile of the company and complement its membership with the Chamber of Commerce.

He said: “We are going to do some work for Home Bargains and different sculptures for the Chelsea Flower Show next year, as well as more markets. It will be a whole different thing.”