The owner of a Chester-based ecology consultancy company has won The Distributor Award as part of the LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders programme for 2024.

Robert Oates, CEO of Arbtech, received the award from trusted investment partner LDC, who created The Top 50 programme to celebrate entrepreneurs demonstrating remarkable ambition.

This year, the programme received over 700 nominations for individuals building successful and growing businesses across the UK.

Over the last six years, LDC have profiled hundreds of the UKs most ambitious leaders. This year Oates was praised for the efficiency of his business and impressive future goals.

The business leaders featured in The LDC Top 50 are making a real impact by creating jobs, promoting social equality, championing sustainability and integrating purpose into their business practices.

Collectively, those named in The Top 50 employ 5,146 people and generate revenues of more than 1.1bn.

Oates was also commended for founding a business that offers ecological reports in 24 hours when the industry average can be a month or more. All the judges noted that Robert was a pioneer in his field, and deserved recognition for providing a game-changing service to customers.

Arbtechis a team of more than 100 arboriculturists and ecologists providing tree surveys, biodiversity surveys and bat surveys.

Arbtech is the UKs number one ecological and arboricultural consultancy. Since 2005, the business has provided its services to homeowners, architects, planning consultants, project managers, and property developers nationwide, working on more than 50,000 projects since its inception.

The achievement highlights Oates as a driving force behind Arbtechssuccess, as well as his impact on customers and employees.

Commenting on the achievement, Oates said: It was a surprise and an honour to be nominated for The Times Top 50 business leaders award, but as with other awards, I cant claim this award is a product of my own work.

Arbtech would not be the company it is today without the help and support of my incredible colleagues - so I accept my inclusion in the Top 50 on behalf of all of us, and look forward to what we can achieve in the next chapter! John Garner, Managing Partner at LDC, added:Its been seven years since we launched The LDC Top 50 and in that time weve had the privilege of meeting some truly remarkable people. Our business leaders for 2024 show relentless drive and determination in their growth ambitions.

Roberts entrepreneurial spirit and determination has enabled Arbtech to go from strength-to-strength. His business is now recognised as the go-to guys for ecological surveys and stands head and shoulders above competitors - Id like to congratulate him on everything hes achieved to date.

ENDS