UON has been announced as the overall winner of WA Business News’s inaugural RISE Business Awards, taking out the top prize of Western Australian Business of the Year. UON also won Large Business of the Year, ahead of finalists Brooks Hire Service, resources and infrastructure contractor NRW Holdings, home loan specialists Keystart and business services provider Carbon.
The strength of the business has been highlighted over the past 12 months. UON’s growth has resulted in a 40% increase in staff while both revenue and profit almost doubled in the year to June 2020.
Rather than laying-off staff or cutting wages, UON made a commitment in March that there would be changes at all in the team’s employment conditions. While there was a short-term halt to new orders, UON chose to continue manufacturing and purchasing supplies. This led to a build-up of stocks and consumables, which meant UON could support clients quickly when activity ramped back up again.
Having recently secured multi-million dollar contracts with Rio Tinto, BHP and other miners, the company is budgeting for more growth in sales and profit in the current financial year.
Mark Keogh, Executive Chair of UON, who received the award, said “It is a credit to all the people who work for UON. Their achievements make this award even more gratifying”.