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Birmingham Post
Birmingham Post
Business
Tamlyn Jones & Tom Pegden & Laura Watson

Aston Martin, Wedgwood and Dorma - Meet the Midlands companies used by the Queen and Prince of Wales as country celebrates Platinum Jubilee weekend

From luxury car brands to fine furniture and jewellery makers, a host of firms across the Midlands region hold royal warrants.

The honour is bestowed as a mark of recognition to people or companies which have regularly supplied goods or services to The Queen, Duke of Edinburgh or Prince of Wales or their households.

They are granted, initially for five years, by The Queen and Prince of Wales and allow holders of the prestigious title to display the Royal Arms logo on their branding to let customers know their products have the royal seal of approval.

There are dozens of warrant holders in the Midlands - here are 15 we think are worth a mention.

Aston Martin

Robert Bamford and Lionel Martin founded Bamford & Martin in 1913 which went on to become Aston Martin, the Gaydon-based manufacturer of high-end, luxury sports cars. The cars are famous and loved throughout the world, in no small part due the company's long-running association with 007 himself, James Bond.

Boots

Based in Nottingham, Boots is one of the UK's leading pharmacy-led health and beauty retailers. It has more than 2,200 stores ranging from local community pharmacies to large destination health and beauty stores and a team of around 51,000 staff.

Brintons

Kidderminster manufacturer Brintons has been making carpets for more than two centuries and its products adorn everything from hotels and restaurants to airport and convention centres. It has designers, sales teams, project managers and agents in all the major markets around the world as well as manufacturing capabilities in the UK, Poland, Portugal and India.

Caverswall China

Caverswall China is a Stoke-on-Trent pottery company which has been producing fine bone china since its inception in 1973. Its small team of master craftsmen operate from a base in Fenton and its range includes hand-painted tea and dinnerware sets, gift items and decorative accessories.

Dacrylate Paints

Based in Kirkby-In-Ashfield, Dacrylate makes all its paints in the UK. It manufactures decorative paints and industrial coatings and is led by three generations of the same family.

DCRS

Founded in 1987, Chesterfield-based DCRS - Direct Communications Radio Services - hires, sells and maintains voice and data radio communication systems and applications. It supplies equipment from manufacturers such as Motorola Solutions, Hytera, Vertex, Icom and Kenwood.

Dorma

Dorma is owned by Leicestershire-based Dunelm and has been designing and making high-quality beds since 1921.

Eagle Sweet Peas

Eagle Sweet Peas is a family-run nursery based in Stowe-by Chartley, Stafford, after being established in 1992 as a grower and breeder of sweet peas. It has won a gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show 12 times and is releasing a special sweet pea in honour of Her Majesty for the Platinum Jubilee.

Flogas

Liquid propane supplier Flogas is based on the same north Leicester business park as Dorma and Dunelm.

It has been operating for 35 years, providing gas to commercial, industrial and domestic customers throughout the UK, from liquefied petroleum to liquefied natural gas.

JCB

JCB is the world's third largest manufacturer of construction equipment including backhoe loaders, telescopic handlers and industrial forklifts. Founded in 1945 by Joseph Cyril Bamford, the family-owned company employs in excess of 6,000 people across 11 UK factories including its world headquarters in Rocester, Staffordshire.

NEJ Stevenson

Rugby-based NEJ Stevenson designs and makes bespoke furniture and woodwork for interior designers, architects and private clients. It can also count collaborations with major household names such as Alfred Dunhill and Diageo among its previous work to provide a range of exclusive products.

Royal Doulton

Royal Doulton was established in 1815 by John Doulton who started out making storage jars and ceramic sewage pipes and evolved into a manufacturer of fine tableware. The company was acquired by Fiskars Corporation in 2015 and is now based in Barlaston, Stoke-on-Trent, selling products globally to countries such as Japan, China, Canada and Australia.

Thomas Fattorini

Thomas Fattorini was founded in 1827 and is based in the heart of Birmingham's historic Jewellery Quarter manufacturing district where it produces a range of items such as insignias, ceremonial swords, name badges and medals. Its previous work includes trophies for the Pride of Birmingham Awards, run by our sister website BirminghamLive, and the National Television Awards.

Toye, Kenning & Spencer

Toye, Kenning & Spencer is one of the UK's oldest companies with its roots dating back to 1685 and another based in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter and a factory in Coventry. Descendants of the founding family still run the business to this day, making insignia and fine jewellery including the medals for this year's Commonwealth Games being held in the company's home city.

Wedgwood

Wedgwood is an iconic British tableware brand based in Barlaston, Stoke-on-Trent. It was established in 1759 by craftsman and philanthropist Josiah Wedgwood and is best known for its 'Wedgwood blue' jasperware which remains a recognisable signature to this day. The company also boasts long-standing collaborations with world-renowned designers Jasper Conran and Vera Wang.

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