Geoffrey Ball Awarded MBE
Geoffrey Ball great-grandson of the founder of leading flooring installation products manufacturer F. Ball and Co. Ltd., based in Cheddleton, has been appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the King’s Birthday 2026 Honours List.
The honour was made in recognition for Geoffrey’s services to Manufacturing, the Flooring Industry and to the local community in Staffordshire.
Geoffrey was integral in establishing the company as the UK’s leading manufacturer of flooring adhesives and subfloor preparation products. Joining the family business in 1965, he became managing director in 1982 and led with a focus on long-term sustainability and reinvestment in the business, with an ethos of honesty, fairness, and integrity.
He has also shown his support for the wider flooring industry, not least with the introduction of the Ball Rewards scheme to support flooring contractors during the 2009 recession, which continues to this day.
Furthermore, Geoffrey has long championed investment in skills and training across the industry, driving the development of the F. Ball Centre of Excellence and supporting the provision of free training opportunities for flooring professionals. This commitment to education and professional development has helped countless contractors enhance their skills and build successful careers.
Last year, he was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the UK flooring industry at the Contract Flooring Journal (CFJ) Awards, the flooring industry’s premier awards.
Locally, Geoffrey has been the driving force behind F. Ball’s support of the local community through charitable work and sponsorship of local sports teams and clubs, including becoming official stadium sponsor for Leek Town F.C., now known as the F. Ball Community Stadium.
Darren Kenyon, managing director of F. Ball and Co. Ltd., commented: “Everyone at F. Ball is absolutely delighted to see Geoffrey recognised with an MBE. It’s testament to his decades of leadership, his unwavering commitment to the flooring industry and his determination to have a positive impact on the local community. His legacy continues to guide everything we do.”
While Geoffrey has transferred day-to-day operations to the board of directors, he maintains an active interest in
F. Ball, and his legacy of innovation and integrity continues to guide the company.
