September has been an incredibly exciting month for Portaramp, with our team attending two prestigious awards ceremonies after the Portaramp Aircraft Ramp Initiative, developed in collaboration with ABM UK, was shortlisted for three industry awards.
We were delighted to attend both the Aviation Industry Awards UK and the Operational Excellence Awards UK, celebrating alongside organisations and professionals delivering innovation and excellence across their industries.
While we didn't bring home an award on either evening, being selected as finalists across three categories is an achievement we're extremely proud of – particularly as the recognition comes just one year after the official launch of the Portaramp Aircraft Ramp.
Three finalist nominations. Two awards ceremonies. One innovative partnership.
It's been a month we'll remember for a long time.
Our awards week began at the Aviation Industry Awards UK, held at Park Plaza London Riverbank on 22 September 2026.
Portaramp UK Ltd and ABM UK had been shortlisted for the Aviation Innovation Award, recognising the Aircraft Ramp Initiative and the work that has gone into developing a practical accessibility solution for the aviation industry.
Being named a finalist for aviation innovation was particularly meaningful for Portaramp.
Our journey into aviation is still relatively new, but the knowledge behind the Aircraft Ramp has been built over more than 25 years of designing and manufacturing portable access solutions.
Working alongside ABM UK gave us the opportunity to combine that experience with first-hand knowledge of aviation operations, ground handling and passenger assistance.
To see that collaboration recognised alongside other innovative projects from across the aviation industry was an incredibly proud moment for everyone involved.
Congratulations to MRO-PRO, who were announced as the winners of the Aviation Innovation Award, and to all of our fellow finalists for the work being done to drive innovation throughout aviation.
The Aviation Industry Awards weren't simply about the individual categories. The evening provided an opportunity to celebrate the people, businesses and ideas helping shape the future of aviation.
For the Portaramp team, it was also another opportunity to meet people from across the sector, build relationships and see the breadth of innovation taking place throughout UK aviation.
The Aircraft Ramp represented Portaramp's first major move from our established rail expertise into aviation accessibility, so attending an aviation awards ceremony as a finalist just one year after the product's official launch was a significant milestone in itself.
It demonstrated just how far the project has progressed in a relatively short period.
Just two days later, it was time to celebrate again.
Portaramp and ABM UK attended the Operational Excellence Awards UK, once again held at Park Plaza London Riverbank, after the Aircraft Ramp Initiative was shortlisted for a further two awards:
Excellence in Collaboration and Partnership
Innovation in Operations
While the Aviation Innovation nomination recognised the innovative thinking behind the Aircraft Ramp, these two categories highlighted other aspects of the project that have been equally important to its success.
From the beginning, the Aircraft Ramp has been a collaborative project developed around real-world operational requirements.
Seeing both of those qualities recognised by the Operational Excellence Awards made the evening particularly special.
Our nomination for Excellence in Collaboration and Partnership reflected something that has been fundamental to the Aircraft Ramp Initiative from day one.
The solution wasn't developed by Portaramp working alone.
Our partnership with ABM UK brought together two different areas of expertise around one shared objective: developing a better way to support accessible aircraft boarding.
Portaramp brought decades of experience in portable access ramp design, lightweight manufacturing, bespoke engineering and accessible transport.
ABM UK brought extensive aviation knowledge, experience of passenger assistance and an understanding of the day-to-day challenges faced by teams operating within busy airport environments.
By combining those perspectives, we were able to develop, test and refine the Aircraft Ramp around genuine operational requirements.
The process included prototypes, live aircraft trials and continued feedback, with each stage providing an opportunity to improve the solution.
Being recognised as finalists in a category specifically celebrating collaboration and partnership therefore meant a great deal to both teams.
Congratulations to SmartestEnergy, who were announced as the winners of the category.
Our third finalist nomination was for Innovation in Operations.
The Aircraft Ramp was created to improve accessibility for passengers with reduced mobility, but achieving that objective also meant considering the operational environment surrounding the passenger journey.
Airports are complex and fast-moving workplaces. Any piece of accessibility equipment needs to work effectively within existing operations while being practical for the teams responsible for using it.
Throughout development, considerations included deployment, handling, storage, passenger safety, different aircraft configurations and the practical requirements of ground-handling teams.
That's why we've always viewed the Aircraft Ramp as more than simply a new product.
Being shortlisted for Innovation in Operations is another achievement the entire Portaramp and ABM UK team can be proud of.
Congratulations to TGS, who took home the Innovation in Operations award.
Of course, we would have loved to return to Portaramp with an award.
But awards are also about recognising achievement, sharing ideas and celebrating the work being carried out across an industry.
To be selected as finalists across three separate categories at two national awards ceremonies is something we're extremely proud of.
The nominations provided external recognition for the innovation behind the Aircraft Ramp, the strength of our partnership with ABM UK and the work of everyone involved in taking the solution from an initial idea to a product being used in real aviation environments.
When we look at everything that has happened during the past year, reaching the finalist stage three times feels like another important milestone in an already remarkable journey.
The timing of the awards made the recognition even more significant for Portaramp.
September 2026 marks one year since the official launch of the Portaramp Aircraft Ramp.
In a relatively short period, the project has progressed from development and testing to UK deployment, global trials and international adoption.
The Aircraft Ramp has travelled beyond the UK, with international developments including the United States, the Netherlands and Australia, where Portaramp Aircraft Ramps are now being used by Qantas.
Alongside that international progress, the Aircraft Ramp Initiative has now been recognised as a finalist for aviation innovation, operational innovation and collaboration.
It's an incredible amount of progress within the first year and a testament to the people and partnerships behind the project.
Although Portaramp and ABM UK were the names on the shortlist, there are many people behind the Aircraft Ramp Initiative.
From initial discussions and early prototypes through to manufacturing, testing, trials and deployment, the project has required expertise and commitment from people across multiple teams.
Our designers and engineers helped turn ideas and operational requirements into a practical product.
Our manufacturing and operations teams helped bring those designs to life.
ABM UK provided the aviation knowledge and real-world operational insight that allowed the solution to be developed around the challenges faced by airports, passengers and ground-handling teams.
Airline and airport partners provided opportunities for trials, testing and feedback across different aircraft and operational environments.
Every conversation, test and design refinement has contributed to where the Aircraft Ramp is today.
The three finalist nominations belong to everyone who has played a part in that journey.
We also want to say a particular thank you to our partners at ABM UK.
Collaboration has been at the heart of this project from the beginning, and ABM's aviation expertise has played an important role throughout the development of the Aircraft Ramp.
From sharing operational knowledge and supporting trials to providing feedback and helping introduce the solution into real aviation environments, the partnership has demonstrated what can be achieved when different areas of expertise come together around a shared objective.
Being able to attend both awards ceremonies together and celebrate three finalist nominations made the recognition even more meaningful.
We look forward to continuing that partnership as the Aircraft Ramp journey develops.
Both awards evenings were a fantastic opportunity to see the innovation, collaboration and commitment taking place across aviation and wider UK industry.
We'd like to congratulate MRO-PRO, SmartestEnergy and TGS on their respective category wins, as well as every organisation and individual recognised across both ceremonies.
Being shortlisted alongside organisations delivering outstanding projects and initiatives made us even prouder of what the Portaramp and ABM teams have achieved.
We're grateful to have been part of both evenings and to have had the opportunity to celebrate the work taking place across these industries.
The awards ceremonies might be over, but the journey of the Portaramp Aircraft Ramp certainly isn't.
Its first year has already taken the solution far beyond where it began, with international trials, new markets, industry recognition and growing relationships throughout aviation.
We'll continue working alongside airlines, airports, ground-handling providers and aviation organisations to understand the accessibility and operational challenges they face.
We'll also continue listening.
The same collaborative approach that helped create the Aircraft Ramp will remain central to how we develop our aviation offering, with real-world feedback helping us identify opportunities to improve and innovate.
Our goal remains to combine accessibility, practical engineering, operational understanding and collaboration to help create better solutions for passengers and the teams supporting them.
The Portaramp Aircraft Ramp has been developed through collaboration, real-world testing and more than 25 years of experience creating portable access solutions.
If you're an airline, airport, ground-handling provider or aviation organisation looking to improve accessible aircraft boarding, our team can work with you to understand your requirements and identify a practical access solution.
Contact Portaramp today to discover more about the Aircraft Ramp and our growing range of aviation access solutions.
