But there's no need for East Midlands businesses to see if they are on the distribution list, as direct applications can be made now for the 2006 Awards.
In addition to the prestigious business Awards, nominations are also being invited for The Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion, an Award for individuals, introduced last year, for people making outstanding contributions to the promotion of enterprise skills and attitudes in others.
The business Award is available in three separate categories, for International Trade, Innovation and Sustainable Development, and all organisations - large, medium or small - which operate regularly as a 'business unit' of the UK economy, are eligible to apply.
The Queen's Awards Secretary Stephen Brice says:
"Over the years the East Midlands has produced many worthy winners, but I know there are many more good quality companies in the region that stand a good chance of winning a Queen's Award next year, and I urge them to come forward and receive the recognition their efforts deserve.
"Any firm of merit can enter - and size is irrelevant. It's a popular misconception that only big companies can win a Queen's Award. Almost half (47%) of the 137 Awards granted in 2005 were made to companies with fewer than 50 employees and fourteen had fewer than 10."
During early June, 142,000 organisations across the UK will receive information as part of a nationwide campaign to promote The Queen's Awards scheme, which recognises and encourages outstanding business achievement.
The minimum requirement is that entrants employ at least two full time people (or part time equivalent), are UK-based, can demonstrate commercial success, and are high achievers in their field.
For winning companies, The Queen's Award for Enterprise provides a valuable promotional and marketing tool in an increasingly competitive domestic and global economy.
- It shows your customers and suppliers just how successful your business is;
- Three members of each winning organisation can attend an evening reception at Buckingham Palace to meet The Queen and other Members of the Royal Family;
- It means high-profile PR opportunities and media publicity both when you win and when the Lord Lieutenant presents the Award at your premises;
- It can boost sales - winners often report increased turnover as result of winning the Award because their national and international profile is raised and it can attract new customers;
- The Queen's Award can give your company instant credibility and it can open doors to new suppliers, customers, investors and partners; and
- It can give a tremendous boost to staff morale.
Individuals can also receive Queen's Award recognition. Awarded for the first time in 2005, the Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion goes to individuals, complementing the well established and successful Queen's Awards that reward collective efforts by the UK's top performing businesses.
The individual Award celebrates a wide range of activities both nationally and locally, from fostering novel methods of mentoring young business people to outstanding leadership in promoting entrepreneurship as a career option.
Up to ten Awards will be granted each year and, in addition, if there is an appropriate candidate, a single Lifetime Achievement Award may go to an individual judged to have carried out consistent and high quality promotion of enterprise.
Successful candidates and those who nominate them will be invited to an evening reception at Buckingham Palace.
Application and nomination forms for both business and individual Awards can be found on The Queens Awards website at www.queensawards.org.uk. There is also a Helpline number: 020 7222 2277. The deadline for this year's Awards is 31 October 2005. Winners will be announced on 21 April 2006.
