The rapidly growing upcycling business Green Doors has won the top prize at this year’s Small Awards.

The Luton-based company, founded by Joseph Holman in 2014, was awarded the ‘Best Overall Small Business’ as well as gaining the coveted ‘Net Hero’ prize.

Holman and managing director Levi Lucas were presented with their awards by the comedian and former Bake Off host Sue Perkins at the ceremony in London.

Holman said: “We were so overwhelmed to win at The Small Awards, not just once, but two different awards – Net Hero and Small Business of the Year.

“We have been running the business for 10 years, built from a passion of wanting to rescue things that deserved a second chance and to preserve our planet.

“The award for Best Overall Small Business came as quite of a surprise, as we believed we were only shortlisted for the Net Hero award, which was as a result of our contribution to sustainability in the construction industry.”

Holman founded his business after selling a set of French doors which he found in a skip.

This gave him the idea of building a large scale business, providing customers with surplus and second hand doors at lower prices, while also reducing waste destined for landfill.

Green Doors now employs 30 staff, produces a revenue of close to £2M and has thousands of doors and windows at its warehouse.

“We are on a mission to give doors a second chance and this award is a significant milestone for us in that mission,” said Holman.

“We have come an incredibly long way in the past decade. Not bad for a business started in a skip.”

“We have been running the business for ten years – starting out with nothing more than a set of doors found in a skip.

“In those ten years we have built it up from a passion of wanting to rescue things that deserved a second chance and to preserve our planet.

“But to then be chosen as best overall small business has meant so much to the team, it hasn’t quite sunk in.

“This makes me think that what we’re doing is clearly making a difference and that is so encouraging for everyone involved.”

ABOUT JOSEPH HOLMAN AND GREEN DOORS

Joseph Holman is the CEO and founder of upcycling company Green Doors, which started with a door he found in a skip. The business now produces revenues of close to £2m and has 30 employees.

Last year the business saved over 3000 items destined for landfill and currently has thousands of doors and windows for sale in its 50,000 square foot warehouse.

Holman is on a mission to provide every door and window with a second life and to stop uPVC going to landfill.