A total of 194 Queen's Awards have been announced this year, the largest number awarded in 44 years of the scheme. Before today, the record number of Awards made in a single year was 175 in 1990. In the region, there's been the highest number of applications this decade, with 73 applicants.
Regional winners
Derbyshire firm W Ball & Son Limited is the oldest firm to earn an award nationally. The Ilkeston company has earned its accolade for its International Trade work and began trading 178 years ago. The company manufactures technical textiles under the trademark Baltex.
Leicestershire's G7th Limited designs and markets a premium range of guitar capos and is one of the smallest winners in the country with just two members of staff. Coalville's Winbro Group Technologies Ltd provides technological solutions for high pressure turbines and combustor components. Both Leicestershire's winners fall under the International Trade category.
Lincolnshire's BGB Engineering Ltd and Cathodic Protection Co Ltd, both based in Grantham, have both been honoured under the International Trade category. BGB Engineering Ltd designs and manufactures electrical slip ring assemblies and lightning protection, while Cathodic Protection Co Limited designs, manufactures and supplies specialist corrosion protection. Welton's Topaz Electronic Systems Ltd, who design and produce replacement electronic chips and resetting equipment, have won their Award under the Innovation category and are one of the smallest winners in the country with just three employees.
Northamptonshire's Intex Management Services ltd, based in Wellingborough, has now won the Award for the second time. It offers market research services to the global electronics industry and has achieved the accolade for its international trade success.
Nottingham-based fashion giant Paul Smith Ltd wins an Award for its International Trade success. Second-time winner Romax Technology Ltd of Nottingham Science and Technology Park, which provides technical consultancy for transport and renewable energy industries, win the Award again for their International Trade. West Energy Saving Technologies of Bramcote, which specialises in central ventilation systems, earn its accolade under the Innovation category and is one of the smallest winners with just three employees.
Overall, 135 companies have won Awards for International Trade, 49 for Innovation and 10 for Sustainable Development. In addition, 11 individuals have received The Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion (QAEP) for their inspiring efforts to encourage UK entrepreneurship. The full list of winners can be found on the Queen's Awards website from 21 April 2009.
Business Minister, Lord Mandelson, said:
"I heartily congratulate all today's winners of The Queen's Awards. These inspirational firms have proved they are amongst Britain's very best businesses. They are flying the flag for British enterprise, innovation and corporate responsibility, both here and abroad. They have achieved the UK's most prestigious standard of business excellence, and set the standard for other businesses to follow as they help lead Britain out of recession."
The UK's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, HRH The Duke of York, said:
"I'm delighted to see so many companies applying for, and winning, The Queen's Award for Enterprise this year. Over the years, I've visited many Queen's Award winning firms, and have seen first hand just what a boost this Award brings to their business and their employees. My sincere congratulations to this year's record haul of winners, and the individual recipients of The Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion, for their exceptional achievement in gaining this prestigious Award."
Minister for Trade & Investment, Lord Davies of Abersoch, said:
"A Queen's Award for Enterprise is an internationally-recognised symbol of business success. It is a standard that I believe all good businesses should aspire to. Past International Trade winners consistently tell us how their Award has helped open new doors for their company overseas. The fact that more firms than ever are now applying for The Queen's Award shows what a remarkably valuable endorsement this Award continues to be around the world."
Winners of The Queen's Awards enjoy widespread publicity, a company visit by a Royal representative during the year to present a crystal bowl and a special reception at Buckingham Palace in July. They are also entitled to use The Queen's Award Emblem in advertising, marketing and on packaging for a period of five years as a symbol of their quality and success.
In a recent survey of 2008 Queen's Award winners:
- 77% of winners reported the win had brought added commercial value to their business
- 73% of winners saw employee engagement rise
- 73% of winners gained extra press coverage
- 85% of winners said the impact of winning a Queen's Award met or exceeded their expectations
- 57% of International Trade winners achieved increased recognition overseas
mited
See also on our website:
