Over 170 British businesses recognised for enterprise excellence on Her Majesty’s 91st birthday
Business Secretary names the winners of the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise 2017.
- established in 1965, the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise celebrates the UK’s small and medium sized businesses
- this year’s winners include the first group for the Promoting Opportunity category
- research shows nearly 75% of past winners attribute the Queen’s Awards to increased international sales
- entries are open as of today for the 2018 awards
Business Secretary Greg Clark today (21 April) named the winners of the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise in celebration of Her Majesty The Queen’s 91st birthday.
One hundred and seventy-six businesses from across the UK have been recognised for their contribution to international trade, innovation, sustainable development and promoting opportunity.
This year’s winners include UK businesses leading the way in a broad range of industries - from green energy solutions and medical healthcare, to laser technology and digital marketing.
Now in its 51st year, the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are one of the most prestigious business awards in the country, with winning businesses able to use the esteemed Queen’s Awards emblem for the next 5 years.
Successful businesses included:
- 11 winners of the sustainable business award
- 57 winners of the innovation award
- 102 winners for the international trade award
- 6 winners for the promoting opportunity award
Business Secretary Greg Clark said:
The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise highlights everything that’s great about UK business today.
We have some of the best entrepreneurs and innovative minds in the world who are at the heart of small start-ups providing excellent customer service to larger businesses developing global solutions. Over 1 million new businesses have been created since 2010, all playing a vital role in creating jobs and driving growth across the UK.
I’m extremely proud to see such a wealth of businesses being recognised today. Through our Industrial Strategy we will be building on the successes of these award winning businesses, helping to build a stronger, more outward looking and prosperous global Britain.
Five small and medium sized companies – MastaPlasta Limited, Servecorp Limited, EcoTile Flooring Ltd, 10ACT Ltd t/a TrackBack, and Oakland International Ltd – received awards for both International Trade and Innovation, with Oakland International Ltd getting the double for International Trade and Sustainable Development.
Six businesses have also been named winners of the new Promoting Opportunity category. This new area was introduced to recognise the important work of social mobility initiatives and programmes that specifically reach out and support people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Winners include Allen & Overy LLP, its Smart Start programme has supported over 770 young people in gaining high quality work experience and Procurement Plus Holdings Ltd which has helped 354 people into employment.
According to research by the University of Strathclyde, 73% of International Trade winners between 2012 and 2015 directly attributed increased international sales to winning a Queen’s Award for Enterprise.
Entry to the 2018 Awards opens on 21 April 2017 and closes on Friday 1 September 2017. To apply and for more information, go to: www.gov.uk/queens-awards-for-enterprise.