Family-owned business grown into international company receives Royal award

The red carpet was rolled out and the best china was taken out of storage in Dartmouth as Ribeye Boats received a royal accolade. 

Ribeye Boats in Dartmouth was awarded the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise in International Trade in April, and today, on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen, the Lord Lieutenant of Devon has handed over the Queen’s Award Trophy and Grant of Appointment Scroll to Managing Director James Burroughs. 

James Burroughs, Managing Director, receives the Queen's Award for Enterprise, from Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of Devon 

Everyone involved in the creation of the RIBs and tenders was there at Ribeye HQ in Dartmouth on Wednesday, 27 October, to see the awards being handed over. 

As he presented the award, Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Devon said: “One of the best things I get to do as Her Majesty’s representative in Devon is these occasions like these when we can celebrate companies who can demonstrate what is happening here in Devon and the fact that your business is international and doing so well is fantastic. 

“International trade has always been at the core of the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise and recognising companies that have put on rapid growth is very much a part of that. What I have really enjoyed talking and hearing about here is how you’ve weathered Covid-19. 

“Seeing the quality of the build of your product, the innovation all the time, all of that is what good companies do and you're doing that in spades so well done and this is a big deal, and is about celebrating all of you, whichever part you play in the company.”

James Burroughs, MD, addressed all the members of his team and said: “This is for all of you and how all of you have worked so incredibly hard and how we have all pulled together as a team, particularly over the last couple of years where we have seen challenges with Brexit and getting the product into Europe but also the supply chain issues we’ve had. 

“Everyone has put their all into catching up on that lost time and I just really from the bottom of my heart and this is testament to your hard work. And also to our loyal clients, who we keep seeing come back time and time again; without those guys none of this would be possible.

“It's been a really incredible 10 year journey seeing us go from a small family business to a world renowned boat builder and I‘m just really excited about what the next ten years is going to look like.”

Later, he added: “Incredibly excited, everyone works really, really hard, but we love it and this award is just awesome for everyone, everyone is always working so hard.”

The whole Ribeye Boats team gathered in their warehouse

Dan Jones, fit out technician, who works as part of the team that physically create the amazing boats that Ribeye provides their clients, said it was “pretty good to have this award, after all our hard work. It's all a group effort but it's so satisfying when you see it come from a bare shell to see it leave the hangar and know you helped build it from the hull up.”

It’s been a special award to receive for Peta Chivers, who alongside her husband Charles, started the business in 1998. 

“It was in this building” she explained, “but the roof was just girders and now we have the three locations across the town. The next generation are firmly in control now.

“Being in Dartmouth and part of the community is very important to us. We are proud to be of Dartmouth and it works to our advantage too, our location means that often clients come down and spend the night in the town and enjoy the beautiful setting while they speak to us about their requirements."

The second generation has officially taken over at Ribeye, with both their sons, Ross and Danny Chivers and their daughter Ella Chivers, taking up roles in the business. Ross is the sales director, Danny is the operations director and Ella is the marketing director, although she is currently on maternity leave following the birth of her baby, and Ella's husband James Burroughs is the MD. 

To find out more about Ribeye Boats and Tenders, visit their website HERE.