Ms Duncan-Moir joined movers and shakers from companies including Jaguar Land Rover, Siemens, Coca Cola and McLaren in being named in The Manufacturer Top 100 Report – but was singled out as an ‘exemplar’ and elevated to its Top 20 list.

The report recognises the achievements of industry leaders, key figures and role models within the UK manufacturing sector, and the Top 20 highlights the exceptional contributions that key individuals make to the sector.

Ms Duncan-Moir was recognised for masterminding sustained growth, expansion and diversification at the Ollerton-based company, which has become a market leader in the design, manufacture and installation of commercial and industrial chimney, flue and exhaust systems.

The company director admitted that she’d known about the accolade for a couple of months but was sworn to secrecy ahead of the gala reception held in Liverpool on November 15.

Ms Duncan-Moir commented: “It’s a real honour and privilege to be named within The Manufacturer Top 100 Report for 2017 – but to then be included in its Top 20 was simply incredible.

“I still can’t believe that A1 Flues was rubbing shoulders with some of the world’s most prestigious manufacturers, including BAE Systems Maritime, Triumph Motorcycles and Sony UK at the launch of the report.”

The authors of the report – who included figures from the Institution of Engineering and Technology, the Royal Academy of Engineering and McLaren Automotive, as well as Professor Sir Mike Gregory CBE, former head of the Institute of Manufacturing at Cambridge University – were clearly impressed with Ms Duncan-Moir’s achievements in the six years since taking over the running of the family business from her father in 2011.

She said that the guiding principles of excellence, pride, passion and precision have seen the company set new standards of manufacturing for the flue and chimney industry. A1 Flue Systems remains the only flue firm in the UK to achieve a CE Mark for a complete system.

The company's standing in the industry has led to a string of high-profile project wins, including The Shard in London and, most recently, the redevelopment of the iconic Battersea Power Station.

Its success in the UK has been the platform for global growth, and exports now account for nearly 10 percent of its turnover, with projects in Europe, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and even the Falkland Islands. 

Ms Duncan-Moir started working in the family business at 18 years old and in typically modest fashion says that she’s still serving a 29-year apprenticeship. She is very proud of being able to operate every piece of machinery on the factory floor to assemble flue components.

Ms Duncan-Moir concluded: “For a long time, we were a tin-bashing company that started life in a chicken shed near the A1 road in Newark.

“We’ve been very fortune to build a team – which now totals nearly 150 people – who have grown with us, and we’ve been able to develop a level of engineering, manufacturing and installation expertise that is second to none.

“Accolades like this make us all realise just how far we’ve come, and we’re really proud of all the achievements of #teamA1 in making us the UK centre of excellence when it comes to commercial flue and chimney systems.”