Cookstown company first manufacturer in NI to be praised in Chancellor's Parliamentary Review

Cookstown's Keystone Group has been honoured for its successes with inclusion in this year's manufacturing edition of the Parliamentary Review.
Keystone chief Sean Coyle speaks to Secretary of State, James BrokenshireKeystone chief Sean Coyle speaks to Secretary of State, James Brokenshire
Keystone chief Sean Coyle speaks to Secretary of State, James Brokenshire

And if that wasn’t enough on its own - in a double whammy - the company has also won the hugely prestigious Construction Industry Award for Innovation.

Its inclusion in the Parliamentary Review sets Keystone apart as the first Northern Ireland based manufacturing company to be singled out for praise in the publication - by Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond.

While the national award for Innovation was announced at the British Construction Industry (BCI) Awards, winning the Product Design Innovation Award for its ground-breaking Brick Slip Masonry Support System from the group’s newest division IG Masonry Support in the same week.

Founded in 1989, Keystone manufactures and supplies a comprehensive range of innovative building products to the construction sector. With over 1,000 employees across production facilities in Cookstown, South Derbyshire, Cwmbran and Poland, the group has experienced huge growth, more than doubling its workforce in just three years.

Its turnover is now in excess of £80m.

Speaking as the company was presented with the official copy of the Parliamentary Review by Secretary of State James Brokenshire MP, company chairman Sean Coyle said the accolade was an unexpected honour.

“We feel honoured that we have been chosen as the first Northern Ireland based manufacturing company to be featured in the Parliamentary Review,” he said.

“Since we set the company up in 1989, making one product with a handful of staff, it’s been an incredible experience to see it grow to the level we have reached today.

“Keystone is a company which we are proud to lead, and which our employees are proud to work for.

“Keystone Group has grown rapidly, and will continue to do so.”