BROMSGROVE family business has won an £11million Ministry of Defence contract to make most of Britain’s military medals, including the George Cross.
Worcestershire Medal Service (WMS) on Broad Street has produced medals for the last 30 years.
WMS beat The Royal Mint to secure the deal and will now produce about 40,000 medals a year, securing more jobs at its Jewellery Quarter factory.
As part of the two-year deal the firm will now make every military medal, award and badge, except the Victoria Cross which will still be made by Hancocks.
Managing director Phil McDermott said: “When I found out we had won the contract I was in absolute shock.
“The Royal Mint has been doing it for around 200 years, so when it was announced we would take over it was a big surprise.”
Worcestershire Medals Service was founded in 1988 and over the years has gained a stellar reputation as a leading supplier of military medals around the world.
It now employs more than 50 people between two hubs in Bromsgrove and Birmingham.
In 2011 the firm landed a contract to produce the official medals to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and was involved in making the Ebola Medal and the Elizabeth Cross.
