Celebrating 25 Years of Dedication: Kerry Willmott Shortlisted for Employee of the Year

The Northamptonshire Business Excellence Awards celebrate exceptional achievements across Northamptonshire’s business community. This year, Spraylat International Ltd, is proud to be shortlisted for not one but two honours — the Innovation Award and Employee of the Year.

While the Innovation Award highlights Spraylat’s pioneering work in surface protection, the Employee of the Year nomination shines a very special spotlight on Kerry Willmott, who celebrates an incredible 25 years with Spraylat this November.

Kerry has been the heart of Spraylat since joining the business in 2000, and in that time, she has become nothing short of indispensable. She’s witnessed – and been instrumental in – every major change, development, and milestone the company has experienced. Her knowledge of Spraylat’s history, products, customers, and processes is unparalleled. Quite simply, Kerry is the person everyone turns to when they have a question, need support, or want to understand how things work.

Officially, Kerry manages the day-to-day running of the office, but her role goes far beyond any job title. She is the glue that holds the business together – coordinating logistics, supporting both management and frontline teams, and maintaining long-standing relationships with customers and suppliers. She still remembers customers from over two decades ago and continues to treat every interaction with the same professionalism, care, and personal touch. It’s one of the many reasons Spraylat’s clients remain loyal year after year.

What truly sets Kerry apart is the deep, unwavering love she has for Spraylat — a love that shines through in everything she does. This isn’t just a job for Kerry; it’s a part of who she is. She treats Spraylat as if it were her own business, fully invested in its success and wellbeing. That personal connection drives her to go above and beyond every single day. Whether she’s solving a logistical issue, supporting a colleague, remembering a customer’s preferences from years ago, or implementing a new process, she does it with care, precision, and heart.

Her passion is infectious — it motivates those around her to do better, aim higher, and take pride in their own work.

Her loyalty is unwavering, but it’s more than that — she genuinely wants what’s best for Spraylat, because she believes in it. Her love for the company is evident in the smallest moments: staying late to make sure things are done right, checking in while on holiday, celebrating wins no matter how small, and always putting the team first. She remembers every milestone, every customer story, and every lesson learned — and carries that with her every day.

Kerry doesn’t just work at Spraylat — she embodies Spraylat. Her heart is in this business, and that’s what makes her truly exceptional.

As the awards ceremony approaches, the entire Spraylat team is filled with pride — for both the company’s recognition in innovation and for Kerry’s incredible personal achievement. Whatever the outcome, these nominations celebrate what truly makes Spraylat special: its innovation, its people, and its heart.