Business leaders, exporters and innovators recognised in King’s Birthday Honours List
The Department for Business and Trade recognises Honours awarded to thirty-six businesses leaders, exporters and innovators.
British business leaders, exporters and Department for Business and Trade staff are among the names being awarded for their exceptional service to business, trade, investment, and exports.
Those honoured have proudly flown the British flag and represent a diverse range of businesses and business leaders who have championed a range of our world-leading sectors.
Business leaders and volunteers recognised in the 2023 Birthday Honours list include:
Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
- Ann Bentley, Global Board Member, Rider Levett Bucknall. For services to Construction.
- Michael Cherry, Lately Chair, Federation of Small Businesses. For services to Business and to International Trade.
- Damian Hopkins, Founder, The Radius Group. For services to the Retail Industry.
- Phillip O’Dell, Lately Director of Flight Operations and Chief Test Pilot, Rolls-Royce. For services to UK aviation.
- Gary Shaughnessy, Chair, Z Zurich Foundation and Parkinson’s UK. For services to Business and to Charity.
- Stephen Welton, Founder and Chair, BGF. For services to Small Businesses and to Entrepreneurship.
Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
- Nicholas Baveystock DL, Director General and Secretary, Institution of Civil Engineers. For services to Engineering.
- Kevin Byrne, Founder, Checkatrade.com. For services to industry and Consumer Protection.
- Anuj Chande, Partner, Grant Thornton. For services to International Trade and Investment.
- Andrew Churchill FREng, Executive Chairman, JJ Churchill Ltd. For services to Engineering.
- Frances Dickens, Founder and Chair, Astus Group. For services to Media Trading.
- Elizabeth Noël Harwerth, Chair UK Export Finance. For services to International Trade.
- Amar Latif, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Traveleyes. For services to the Visually Impaired and to Entrepreneurship.
- Richard Paxman, Chief Executive Officer, Paxman Coolers Limited. For services to International Trade.
- Kevin Taylor, Chair, Industrial Development Advisory Board. For services to Business and to the Economy.
Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
- Professor David Cooper. For services to Lift and Escalator Engineering.
- Professor Philip Dickens, Founder, Added Scientific. For services to the Additive Manufacturing Sector.
- Caroline Hamilton, Chief Executive, Safety Assessment Federation. For services to Business and to Engineering.
- Dennis Mardon, Chair, Citizens Advice Exeter, for services to Vulnerable People in Exeter, Devon.
- Christine Payne, Lately General Secretary, Equity. For services to the Trade Union Movement.
- Hina Solanki, Founder, Sol Cosmedics. For services to Business and to Charity.
- Sandra Strong, Chair, Customs and Export Licensing Committee, British Exporters Association. For services to British Exporters.
- Penelope Taylor, Head, Newark College and Air and Space Institue. For services to Skills and Employment in Newark and Sherwood, Nottinghamshire.
- David Williams DL, Vice Chair, D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership and Chairman, Geldards LLP. For services to Business and to the Economy in Derbyshire Nottinghamshire.
Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)
- Elizabeth Baitson, Founder, High Net Connect. For services to Business and to Entrepreneurs.
- Balbir Kaur Dhillon, Postmaster. For services to the community in Birchwood, Cheshire.
- Kuldeep Singh Dhillon, Postmaster. For services to the community in Birchwood, Cheshire.
- Jennifer Didcote, Postmaster. For services to the community in Bishop’s Cleeve, Gloucestershire.
- Dorothy Kay, Volunteer, Citizens Advice, Elmbridge West. For services to Employment Advice.
- Virendra Patel, Technical Support Partner, John Lewis and Partners. For services to the community in Hampshire.
Staff from the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) recognised in the 2023 Birthday Honours List include:
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
- Gordon Welsh, Lately Head of Business Group, UK Export Finance.
Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
- Charlotte Heyes, Chief Negotiator and Deputy Director, Trade Negotiations Group.
- Ryan Sinclair, Assistant Head.
Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
- Jacqueline Griffiths, Senior Policy Advisor.
- Sandra Stephenson, Head of Personnel Security.
- Robin Sykes, Lately Head of Import Controls.
Some of the recognised recipients include:
1. Michael Cherry – awarded a CBE for services to for services to business and to international trade.
For over 20 years Michael has been a passionate advocate for international trade and the benefits it can bring to the economy. Serving 2 full terms (6 years) as Federation of Small Businesses National Chair, the first Chair to do this, Michael has also worked hard to ensure that the voice of smaller firms is heard in the national conversation on small business. Michael has also worked to promote the advantages of international trade to UK small firms in support of the Global Britain agenda. This has included speaking at the UK-Japan Free Trade Summit on the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and at the Australian High Commission in support of negotiations for a UK-Australia FTA. Furthermore, Mike has been a committed advocate for UK trade policy in the national and international media, highlighting the massive interest amongst the UK’s over 500,000 small exporters in concluding FTAs with Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and others.
Michael Cherry CBE, Lately Chair, Federation of Small Businesses said:
I am hugely honoured and obviously delighted to have been put forward for this award, and my thanks to everyone who gave me their support in what we did for businesses and international trade during the time I was privileged to be National Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses, as well as my congratulations to everyone else recognised in this year’s Birthday Honours.
Small businesses make up the vast majority of the businesses across all parts of the UK and deserve more of our support, especially after the difficulties of the last few years, in looking at the opportunities overseas markets present for them to grow and develop their businesses.
2. Elizabeth Noël Harweth awarded an OBE for services to international trade.
In her role as chair of UKEF, Noël has helped build UKEF from a transactional agency focused on serving few exporters into one of the leading export finance groups in the world while managing risk to a significantly low level. She has built the organization into one of the leading export finance groups in the world, serving hundreds of businesses and projects. Furthermore, Noël’s leadership of the Board at UKEF has contributed to record amounts of support for UK exporters. Noël is the first female Chair of UK Export Finance, and she has consistently championed diversity and inclusion. Noël is deeply committed to public service and to strengthening civil society and she has been very committed to promoting women’s leadership and equality. Noël founded the Women’s Corporate Directors chapter in the UK and continues to chair that group. Plus, having joined the International Women’s Forum approximately 20 years ago, she remains an active member.
Elizabeth Noël Harweth OBE, Chair of UK Export Finance said:
To be awarded an OBE for services to international trade is a great privilege. UK Export Finance has become one of the world’s leading Export Credit Agencies due to the vision and hard work of our dedicated public servants. We are proud to support Great Britain’s exporters, whose goods and services improve the lives of millions around the world.
3. Amar Latif awarded an OBE for services to the visually impaired and entrepreneurship.
Having lost his sight in his teens, Amar has set the bar extremely high to prove to himself, and to encourage many others around the world, that blindness is no impediment to achieving what you desire. He has done this in entrepreneurship, motivational speaking and appearances in a range of TV programmes. Having held the post of Finance Director in the Leeds office of BT, he created Traveleyes in 2004, a company specialising in bespoke holidays around the world for the visually impaired. Traveleyes was voted Best Assisted/Accessible Holiday Company at the British Travel Awards in 2019 and 2020. Named by The Chamber of Commerce International as The Outstanding Young Business Entrepreneur of the World, he received the first-ever Stelios Disabled Entrepreneur Award from Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou of EasyJet, run by the charity Leonard Cheshire Disability. He was named Alumnus of the Year by the University of Strathclyde.
Amar Latif OBE, Founder and CEO of Traveleyes said:
I would never have imagined in my wildest dreams that my achievements would be recognised and acknowledged in this fabulous way, and I am so so humbled!
I’m incredibly grateful to all that have joined me on the journey to get here. I have worked very hard to overcome barriers and preconceptions that people have had of me as a blind person, and I set up Traveleyes, the world’s first commercial tour operator, to provide independent group travel for people who are blind, vision impaired and fully sighted because tour operators didn’t cater for people like me.
4. Sandra Strong awarded an MBE for services to exports.
With 35 years of experience in international trade, Sandra’s input, dedication, and commitment to the British Exporters Association, its members and the wider UK exporting community continues to be invaluable. One example is when it was suggested that the British Exporters Association add to their set of free guides, by publishing one on trade compliance, Sandra was the key ‘go to person’ because of her wide knowledge of the practicalities of customs, VAT, duty, hazardous goods, export controls and certification for packaging. Sandra was instrumental in introducing a free helpline for British Exporters Association members, which has proven to be an invaluable resource for UK exporters to assist with all export and international trade related matters, particularly with the challenges surrounding Brexit. Plus, Sandra willingly shares her knowledge and expertise to help educate and develop others in international trade matters.
Sandra Strong MBE, Chair of the British Exporters Association said:
I am delighted and honoured to receive this award in recognition of my services to British exporters. I would like to acknowledge the exceptional teams I have been privileged to work alongside, notably the British Exporters Association (BExA), whose unwavering commitment to advocating for the needs of British companies in the global marketplace is truly commendable.
I am also grateful for the steadfast support provided by Strong & Herd LLP, whose expertise in customs and international trade regulations has been invaluable in assisting UK businesses for nearly 30 years. This award is an opportunity to recognise the extraordinary efforts, goodwill and ongoing contributions of these teams, partners and collaborators, and it has been my pleasure to work with them during my career.
5. Dennis Mardon awarded an MBE for services to vulnerable people in Exeter, Devon.
In 2004, Exeter Citizen’s Advice was facing closure but is now a financially healthy, respected, effective and dynamic organisation. This is due to Dennis’ unstinting commitment, leadership, energy and dedication. His senior management background and awareness of the importance of good governance has enabled him to develop a Board of 14 Trustees, who increasingly reflect the profile of the community, ensuring that they have the knowledge and skills to support and develop the service. He is highly respected by staff and in 2019 was chosen as Volunteer of the Year by the 80+ volunteers in the Bureau. Under his leadership the Bureau was awarded the Queens Award for Voluntary Service in 2016 and the Exeter Living Charity of the Year Award in 2017. The success of Dennis’ leadership over 18 years is reflected in the organisation’s 2020/21 Impact Statement which showed a 92.3% satisfaction rate with the 29,658 issues dealt with by the service.
Dennis Mardon MBE, Chair of Exeter Citizens Advice said:
I am extremely pleased and honoured to be awarded an MBE. This honour is as much about Citizens Advice Exeter as it is about me. I am so proud of everyone involved with our charity – all the volunteers, staff and trustees – for the amazing work they do every day. I always think of them as a family, and without their support and dedication I certainly wouldn’t be receiving this award.
6. Balbir Kaur Dhillon and Kuldeep Singh Dhillon both awarded a BEM for services to the community
Balbir Kaur Dhillon and Kuldeep Singh Dhillon are both widely recognised as pillars of the community, not simply because they are extremely dedicated and long serving postmasters. They are also active members of their local community, bringing a lasting and positive impact across schools, hospitals, foodbanks and local sports teams in the area. During the first lockdown, Balbir and Kuldeep worked with others at their Temple to fundraise for, prepare, and distribute some 35,000 meals for frontline NHS staff at both Warrington and Halton hospitals. Working weekends on site, they kept doctors and nurses fed and watered as they worked to save lives. Observing and understanding the increasing levels of hardship being experienced by those at the less advantaged end of the spectrum, they both regularly top up supplies at the local foodbank from their own retail stock. It is hard to overstate Balbir and Kuldeep’s commitment to, and love for, their local community.
Balbir Kaur Dhillon BEM and Kuldeep Singh Dhillon BEM, Postmasters said:
We are both incredibly honoured and grateful to receive this award. We hope to continue serving the Birchwood community, as it brings us so much pleasure to help the people around us that we class as family.