A STIRLING firm has won a top business award for a revolutionary product aimed at the hospitality industry.

Shepherd Filters UK scooped the Service and Maintenance Initiative of the Year honour at the H&V News Awards 2018.

The company, run by entrepreneur Simone Hart Sibbald from Stirling Enterprise Park, installs environmentally-friendly kitchen grease filters made of antipodean wool in commercial premises.

The product, which drastically reduces the risk of kitchen fires, has also been nominated for the Business Innovation Award at the CIS Excellence Awards.

Ms Hart Sibbald officially launched the innovation, currently being trialled nationwide by a major restaurant chain, in the UK this January.

She said: “This is the first time we’d entered the filter for an award and we were over the moon to win.

“The H&V News judges seemed impressed by the simplicity of the product and the fact it has the potential to revolutionise the current way of working in the kitchen grease extract industry.

“They liked the environmental benefits compared to traditional grease extract cleaning which uses water and chemicals and creates hazardous waste. 

“Because Shepherd Filters are made from wool, the product is biodegradable and can easily be disposed of with food waste. 

“For me, the award is validation of the first year of work in the UK raising people’s awareness of this revolutionary filter and overcoming scepticism which is always the challenge when bringing something new and different to an established market.”

Shepherd Filters are described as an innovative alternative for the food and hospitality industry which cut the risk of fires significantly by reducing the build-up of grease in kitchen extract systems. 

The company said they capture up to 98 per cent of airborne grease before it enters the system – compared to regular metal filters which catch around 20 per cent.

The initiative beat off competition from three other companies to win the H&V News Service and Maintenance Initiative Award for firms working in the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) industry.

Andrew Gaved, editor-in-chief of H&V News, said: “Our winners demonstrate the passion, the pride and the performance this industry offers. 

“Above all, it is an industry that never rests on its laurels and so I am proud to congratulate all our winners.”

The filter has also been shortlisted for the annual CIS Excellence Awards which recognise creativity, innovation and excellence in the Scottish hospitality, catering and tourism sectors.

Shepherd Filters UK are up against Chefs Eye Tech, a food waste reduction technology, and The Scottish Salmon Company for the Business Innovation accolade with the winner set to be unveiled at a ceremony in Glasgow on Thursday, May 31.

Ms Hart Sibbald, the firm’s chief executive officer, said: “We’re delighted with the nomination and looking forward to going before the impressive panel of judges to tell them more about the product.

“It’s very heartening to be recognised by the catering industry and gives us a real boost as we move forward in demonstrating the many benefits of the filter to potential customers throughout the UK.”

The firm will also be exhibiting the filter at the Commercial Kitchen Equipment, Services and Design Show being held in Birmingham next month (June 5 and 6).