THE owner of Stallion AI, a world leader in artificial insemination based in Whitchurch, said being called Shropshire’s Company of the Year is a boost for the town.

Tullis Matson was joined by 19 colleagues on stage at the Shropshire Business Awards on Friday night after his company – which saves and preserves rare breed stallions and other animals – was named the best in the county.

The win broke the hold on the award held by Oswestry’s Aico, which had won it three times in a row, much to Tullis’s delight, describing it as a most-coveted achievement and one that is for Whitchurch.

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“We’re delighted – we’ve had our eye on this award for a long time,” he said.

“We’ve been suggested a few times but hadn’t made the long list but it was great to win.

“It was an honour to win The Trailblazer – Innovation Award but the icing on the cake was the Company of the Year.

“It’s great for Whitchurch to be able to shout from the rooftops that one of their businesses is now company of the year for the whole of Shropshire, which is brilliant.

“I’m born and bred in Whitchurch – we love it here and we’ve loved playing our little part in trying to put it on the map and that’s done by the amazing team we have here.

“I always come back to them because I am very lucky as they are such a good team who drive the company with their passion.

“A lot of them are from the Whitchurch area as well – it’s a win for Whitchurch by Whitchurch people though it hasn’t quite sunk in yet.”

Staff at Stallion AI celebrate their win. Staff at Stallion AI celebrate their win. (Image: Carl Jones.)

Tullis said that the relief of hearing Stallion AI’s name being called out was ‘incredible’ and dedicated the win to his family.

“Your fingers are crossed but you never know what’s going to happen and the judges had brilliant poker faces that give nothing away,” he said.

“There other nominees were there too like Aico but as soon as I heard the S for Stallion, it was just brilliant.

“My heart was racing and such joy with 20 members of our team there though we couldn’t take them all, but it was great to have them there winning after putting their heart and soul into it.

“It’s dedicated to both my mum Petronella and dad Richard’s side of the businesses.

“Mum had rare breed horses and she was very proud of that.

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“I am an emotional person and the work we do has stopped species from going extinct and that’s played a big part in winning.

“Everyone believes in the work that we do when it comes to rare breed conservation and this will really help in that effort.

“It’s important to point out the work that Kate Ashmore, my managing director, does across the sites and also my wife Sarah, and now my daughter India works for the business and she was there to celebrate on Friday.”