A BLACKPOLE company's sterling efforts have won them the 2005 Queen's Award for Enterprise.

Sterling Power Products was given the award for its mobile power systems designed for boats and caravans.

The honour was presented last Friday, April 22, in London by The Duke of Gloucester. This will be followed by a presentation of a crystal bowl by the Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire next month.

On Tuesday, July 12, Charles Sterling and two members of the company go to Buckingham palace for a garden party with the Queen.

Sterling Power Products was founded in 1995 by the former marine engineer to offer innovative marine and automotive power products at affordable prices.

"When I used to work on boats, I became aware that there were certain fundamental faults with the battery charging systems and power systems on small vessels," said Mr Sterling.

"It became obvious to me that if you can improve the alternator's intelligence, it would allow the batteries to be charged faster and more efficiently. I started to design a device that would control the alternator according to my ideas."

Following this first product the original idea was then transferred to other products which resulted in the first switch mode battery charger for the marine market. The firm now makes battery chargers, advanced alternator regulators, sine wave inverters and other power products for boats, motorhomes, caravans and commercial vehicles.

The annual turnover of the company has risen by 60 per cent on average over the past five years and now stands at £2m in the UK, with another £8m worth of its products sold worldwide.

The company employs eight people in the UK and a further 40 in Taiwan.