Horse grooming products firm KBF99 has received a prestigious Lord Stafford Award, winning the top prize in the innovation category, which was presented at the awards dinner at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.

The awards celebrate and recognise collaborations between business and academia in developing innovative products, processes or services.

Managing Director Peter Wilkes said: “This is excellent news and we're delighted to see the partnership that brought this product to market recognised in this way.

“We know that grooming products can be a major cause of spreading skin and respiratory infections in horses which can be fatal.

“Coventry University approached us with the idea of an antimicrobial horse grooming kit and, using their scientific expertise and our manufacturing know-how, we have managed to develop the KBF99 range.”

Lord Stafford, Patron of the Awards, said: “This is a classic example of how a university, by collaborating with a business, can take a groundbreaking technology from concept to market.

“I congratulate both the company and the university for their achievement and for winning their Lord Stafford Award.”

For more information please visit www.kbf99.co.uk or contact Vale Brothers on 01239 614648.

Picture caption (left to right): Dr Stephen Coupe of Coventry University, Lord Stafford and Peter Wilkes of Vale Brothers.