Green businesses encouraged to apply for prestigious Queen’s Award
Businesses are encouraged to showcase their achievements and apply for a Queen’s Award in Sustainable Development.
- in a video message, The Prince of Wales urges more businesses to put sustainable practices at the heart of what they do
- Business Secretary says companies have opportunity to take advantage of UK’s transition to a cleaner economy
The Queen’s Awards 2020 have been launched today (17 July 2019), with UK businesses being urged to join more than 7,000 winners of the prestigious Queen’s Award and apply for the Sustainable Development category.
In a video message, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales has encouraged more businesses to be sustainable and showcase their green credentials.
In the video message, The Prince of Wales said:
More than ever before, a good business is a genuinely sustainable business, and this has nothing to do with size or sector.
Each and every business can make a real contribution to the durability and biological integrity of our planet and those that do should be recognised for their achievements with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise.
Business Secretary Greg Clark said:
The UK has led the world in tackling climate change, becoming one of the first major economies to legislate for a net zero target last month.
We have cut emissions by more than 40% since 1990 while growing the economy by more than two-thirds – proving that sustainability and clean growth make financial sense. UK companies have the opportunity to build on our strengths and take advantage of the UK’s and world’s transition to a cleaner economy.
This is why I encourage UK businesses to enter the prestigious Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, helping showcase their green credentials and help elevate their products and services onto the world stage – a key part of our modern Industrial Strategy.
There are 4 categories for the awards, the most prestigious awards for UK businesses, which celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s birthday:
- Sustainable Development
- Promoting Opportunity
- International Trade
- Innovation
The updated Sustainable Development category makes it easier for businesses to demonstrate commercially successful, sustainable development practices that put them at the forefront of industry.
Winners are:
- presented the award by one of The Queen’s representatives, a Lord-Lieutenant
- able to fly The Queen’s Award flag at the main office, and use the emblem on marketing materials for 5 years
- given a Grant of Appointment and a commemorative crystal trophy
Notes to editors
Applications for the Sustainable Development category opened today, Wednesday 17 July. They are free to enter, and it is a self-nominating process.
Past Queen’s Awards winners have reported benefiting from worldwide recognition, increased commercial value, greater exposure and a boost to staff morale. Research also shows up to 73% of past International Trade winners attribute the Queen’s Awards to increased international sales.
Applications opened on 1 May 2019 for International Trade, Innovation and Promoting Opportunity categories and close on 10 September 2019.
Applicants may apply for more than one award and entries are welcomed from all sectors. More information and to apply.
The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise Sustainable Development category has been refocused to make it even easier for businesses to apply.
The category will align with the fifth anniversary of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The goals are a blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future through 17 pledges including those related to poverty, inequality, climate and peace and justice.
Later this year the government will be holding its second Green GB Week, bringing businesses and the public together to incentivise everyone to do more to tackle climate change. Last year’s event saw 60 of the UK’s largest companies pledge to reduce their emissions, with HSBC pledging £250 million investment in solar parks and wind farms and the John Lewis Partnership committing to overhauling its 500-strong fleet of diesel trucks.