Presented at a ceremony at the RAC's prestigious London HQ, the accolade is widely regarded as one of industry's most esteemed awards. Previous winners include Sir Christopher Cockerell, inventor of the hovercraft; the British Aircraft Corporation and Aerospatiale (France), for the development of Concorde; and Sir Richard Noble, for setting a new land speed record of 633.486mph.
John Bloor rescued Triumph from administration in 1983. With notable investment, he was able to rebuild the business from its new base in Hinckley, Leicestershire, establishing it, until it was deposed by BMW at the end of last year, as the UK's leading large-capacity motorcycle manufacturer.
In 2015, Triumph Motorcycles sold 8259 motorcycles and reported an annual turnover of £341.3m, generating a profit of £2.3m. The business has always seen R&D as a strategic priority, investing over £25m (about 7.5% of turnover) per annum in 2014 and 2015. During the previous financial year, the company, which employs 2300 people globally, sold 53,812 motorcycles. Throughout the year, Triumph continued significant investment in new model development and in its manufacturing and distribution networks in India, Thailand and Brazil.
Commenting on the announcement, Ben Cussons of the Royal Automobile Club, said: "It gives me enormous pleasure to present the Diamond Jubilee Trophy to John Bloor OBE and the staff at Triumph Motorcycles. All the previous recipients have been 'game changers' and there is no exception with Triumph. The team has transformed Triumph from one of the most iconic British brands to a globally recognised one. Their commitment to manufacturing excellence and a single-minded determination to build the 'best of British' has enabled them to succeed in an intensely competitive market. This outstanding achievement and commitment to quality and innovation embody all that the trophy represents."
John Bloor replied: "I am delighted to accept this trophy on behalf of all the staff at Triumph Motorcycles. From the design department in Hinckley, to our global manufacturing facilities and worldwide sales and distribution offices, everyone at Triumph works with passion and pride to excite and engage with our customers. The success of the brand is, without doubt, down to the skill and commitment of our team."
Pictured are Ben Cussons, left, and John Bloor.
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