Falmouth PR and marketing professional, John Knowles, has received the Services to the Industry Award at the Fork Lift Truck Association’s Awards for Excellence.

The annual black-tie event, attended by a 400-strong audience comprising world-leading manufacturers including Toyota, Linde and Jungheinrich, celebrates the materials handling industry’s brightest and best products and individuals.

Fork Lift Truck Association chief executive, Peter Harvey, said: “John is a wise counsel and trusted friend to many in the industry. As one of the sector’s unsung heroes, he has dedicated more than four decades making it a safer and more prosperous one.

“He is a stalwart of safety and has played a big part in developing many campaigns and events that are fixtures on the calendar, including these awards.”

He may be the toast of the forklift industry, but John’s expertise extends far beyond. His company, JKC Creative Marketing, delivers B2B marketing services to a host of international organisations, across an extensive range of industries.

From swimming pool suppliers and training providers to network hardware manufacturers and charities, JKC’s clients praise the company’s ability to really understand their industry, organisation, and audience.

John relocated to Cornwall with his family, more than 30 years ago, to swap marketing for shop keeping. However, his former clients valued his guidance and work so much, they finally persuaded him to resume working for them.

Since then, his agency has grown, delivering a full-suite of marketing and PR services, including lead generation, copywriting, websites, conferences, live events, social media and email campaigns.

John said: “We work hard to give each of our clients the exposure, advice, and development they require to excel in their market.

“It’s wonderful that the forklift industry has really felt the impact of our efforts. It’s been my great privilege to help this particular industry mature and grow, and I am truly honoured to call so many people within it my friends.

"New clients sometime suggest that Falmouth is an unlikely base from which to work nationally and internationally, but they quickly appreciate the expertise we can deliver. From a personal perspective I certainly wouldn’t swap the work-life balance made possible by living in such a great location.”