Staffordshire firm Tuffa UK has won the Franco-British Chamber of Commerce & Industry Award for exporting its bespoke tanks to the French market.

Set up in 2005, Tuffa UK manufactures plastic or steel storage tanks, for a wide range of substances including diesel, oil, biodiesel and chemicals.

The firm’s export story began in 2009 when similarities in legislation led the company to try their products in a number of European countries including the Baltic states, and they soon succeeded in winning orders in Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

The company then approached UK Trade & Investment for help in expanding their exports and is now successful in markets as diverse as Australia, Africa and France – where the company recently won orders with multinational oil company Total subsidiaries and Renault Truck Oils.

The company now employs 34 members of staff and has an annual turnover of £3.6 million.

Exports are worth about £1 million per year to the firm.

Tuffa director Jackie Shenton said: “I’m extremely proud to receive this award! We didn’t expect to win and it was wonderful to be recognised in this way and bring our award back for all the staff who have contributed to our export success.”

UKTI trade adviser Cheryl Astley said: “This award is well deserved and reflects the total commitment the company has made in turning sales opportunities into sales orders.”