Mark Dolman of Portable Space in Stowmarket has been named winner of the Director of the Year award, sponsored by Churchmanor Estates, at the EADT Business Awards 2023.

Portable Space is a leading UK supplier of shipping containers and conversions, portable cabins, modular buildings and steel storage containers, which are available to buy and hire.

The Stowmarket-based business was founded in 2002 by owner and director Mark Black when, following his return to a fourth-generation family farming business, he bought 50 cabins and a lorry. 

Portable Space eventually became independent from the farming business, and Mark Dolman was appointed director in 2017.

Mark Dolman has continued to expand the company, growing turnover from approximately £8m to an estimated £23m this year and seeing Portable Space named in the Grant Thornton top 100 Suffolk-based businesses for 2023.

The judges said that Mark is “passionate, confident and enthusiastic about not only the company but the company’s success and plans for the future”. His commitment to “people power” was commended, and the judges felt that Mark is “without a doubt one of the reasons behind the growing success of this company”.

After receiving his award, Mark said that he sees it as “a huge personal achievement”.

He said he was “very pleased, very honoured, very grateful and very surprised” to have won “against three other fantastic candidates” and said that he felt an “immense sense of pride”.

About the sponsor

Churchmanor Estates is one of the foremost commercial property developers in the East of England, renowned for adopting a collaborative approach to property development.

Through joint ventures with landowners, Churchmanor has helped to unlock the development potential of their landholdings. For individual local and national businesses, Churchmanor has developed new premises, such as Birketts’ HQ in Ipswich and Marks & Spencer and B&Q at Stane Retail Park, Colchester.

Churchmanor believes in creating brilliant spaces for work and for life and continues to develop commercial accommodation including business parks, offices, retail and leisure and major town centre regeneration.

The finalists

Colin Yaxley – Seatrium Offshore Renewable Services

As managing director of Seatrium Offshore Renewable Services in Lowestoft, Colin Yaxley has overseen the company’s transformation from fabricator to offshore support services provider.

The judges said that Colin’s “in-depth knowledge of the industry and strategic thinking took the company from loss to notable profit in just two years”.

James Tweed – Coracle

James Tweed is CEO of Coracle, a digital learning company in Newmarket which provides access to education for inmates at 86 prisons in England and Wales.

The company’s tech platform allows inmates to access learning content without having to use the internet.

The judges noted that James’ passion is clear, and he was “truly inspiring to listen to”.

John Parnell - Generate Leads Online

Generate Leads Online (GLO), founded by John Parnell, is an online marketing agency in Ipswich that uses a combination of data, technical knowhow and creative flair to transform businesses’ online presence.

Noting his status as a “prominent figure in the local business scene”, the judges said “John’s desire for progress is clearly the driving force behind the success of GLO”.

To find out more about all the winners, please click here.

For more on the EADT Business Awards, please visit the website.