A BUSINESS woman from Lower Withington has picked up her MBE from Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace.

Co-founder of Northwich-based UK Container Maintenance, Emma Elston received her award, handed in the New Year's Honours, on Wednesday, May 6 at the palace.

Emma, who set up the container refurbishment company with her husband Julian in 1998, was awarded an MBE for her ‘dedicated services to manufacturing’ in this year’s New Year Honours List.

The Prince of Wales presented Emma with her MBE in front of a packed audience at Buckingham Palace.

Speaking about her day, Emma said: “Since finding out about my MBE, I have felt quite overwhelmed. As I travelled to London the day before my investiture, it was only then when it began to feel very real.

“When Prince Charles presented my honour, I almost had to pinch myself!

"It was such an amazing day and to have my family with me, witnessing this special moment was an incredible feeling.

“I am delighted to see that the value of refurbishment and the reuse of waste and recycling containers have now been recognised on such a large scale. There is always the potential for further cost saving to be made and hopefully this particular green issue has been raised up the public agenda.

“I would like to say a massive thank you to all the team at UKCM as well as my family and friends for their unrivalled support.”

Having spotted a gap in the market, Emma and Julian were turned down by the banks, but risked everything to get UKCM off the ground in 1998. UKCM now turns over £5.5 million per annum and employs more than 60 people at its Winnington-based headquarters.