There was a huge round of applause at Friday’s Shropshire Chamber Business Awards – and for good reason! Our Managing Director, Steven Owen, has been named the winner of this year’s John Clayton Award, a prestigious accolade recognising long-standing service and commitment to the Shropshire business community.
The award celebrates individuals who have made a significant positive impact on the lives of others, giving back through mentorship, volunteering, or charitable work.
With almost 30 years at Pave Aways, Steven has led by example – not only through business success, but by championing our local communities and investing in the people and places around where we live and work.
This award came as a complete surprise, and it still hasn’t fully sunk in. It’s an honour to receive it, and I feel truly humbled and extremely grateful to have been chosen as this year’s winner.
At Pave Aways, we strive every day to do things better than the day before, to improve the experience and quality of life for everyone we work with and for. Our motto is ‘Building Our Future, Together’, and that reflects the ethos I’ve always believed in, and that is to support our people, serve our community, and do what’s right in the places where we live and work.
I’ve had the privilege of building a business that champions local suppliers, creates opportunities for young people, and gives back wherever we can, always with the aim of delivering long-lasting value for Shropshire. The vision of Pave Aways today remains the same as it was when it was founded in 1973: people first, always.
I owe a thousand thank-yous to so many people – but the biggest one will always go to my father, who taught me the values of hard work, honesty, respect, and love. He would have had a big smile on Friday evening! Thank you all… I’m not great with surprises!
– Steven Owen, Managing Director of Pave Aways Ltd
Under Steven’s leadership, Pave Aways has built a strong reputation for keeping the Shropshire pound in Shropshire, working with over 200 locally based suppliers. In the past year alone, this has delivered more than £4.8 million into the local economy.
Steven is also a passionate advocate for apprenticeships, playing a key role in helping young people launch careers in construction. He has long supported grassroots sports teams across the region and, earlier this year, launched a new community grant fund aimed at boosting employment prospects for young people in Shropshire.
Commercial Director, Victoria Lawson said, “Steve’s dedication to Shropshire and to building strong relationships within the community sets the tone for everything we do at Pave Aways. Steve leads with integrity and a genuine commitment to making a positive difference to the communities around all of our projects.”
Pave Aways was also shortlisted for the ‘Champion of Champions’ award on the same evening, a category celebrating overall excellence in business. While the title went to our neighbours at Aico, we were very proud to be among such strong finalists.
Congratulations, Steve – we’re proud to have you leading the way on our journey to #BuildingOurFutureTogether!