A MASHAM company has honoured five employees with 145 years service between them.

I’Anson Brothers – one of the UK’s leading family-owned farm feeds businesses – presented the awards during the company’s away day at the Forbidden Corner, near Leyburn.

The day for staff and their families included a barbecue, music from a local singer/songwriter, and the presentation of a gold Britannia coin and certificate to each long server commemorating their commitment.

The company employs 72 people and places a high value on staff retention, with the entire staff clocking up more than 1,000 years of service – equating to an average of 14 years each.

Three of the five receiving awards have completed more than 30 years. Howard Jackson, the company’s grain trader responsible for purchasing all cereal and pulses, has logged over 31 years of service while Barry Shield, a senior sales representative, and Paul Morris, who oversees the bulk loading of lorries on site, have both spent 30 years at the company.

Kevin Jones, supervisor of the micronizing plant, and Sharon Chapman, office manager, have 26 and 28 years at the company respectively.

Chris I’Anson, chairman and managing director, said: "As a family company, I’Anson Brothers prides itself on traditional values and the happiness of our employees. It’s incredibly heartening to see our way of working is paying off, with these five having been here now for more than 25 years and many others not far behind.

"We endeavour to make this a place people enjoy working at, both in terms of career satisfaction and overall business success. I’m happy to report both are going well at the moment and we are not standing still and are constantly looking at ways to innovate and improve the business."

I’Anson Brothers is one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of animal feedstuffs and has been serving farmers in Yorkshire and the North of England since 1900 when it was founded in Masham.

In 2008, the firm was awarded a Queen's Award for Enterprise in the Innovation category for its development of Speedi-Beet, a revolutionary quick-soaking sugar beet feed, which has become a market leader in the equine feed sector. It is now exported to 26 countries including Australia, the USA, and Canada, along with many in the Middle East and Europe.