Is your company a Queen’s Award winner?
There is still time to apply for a Queen’s Enterprise Award, one of the UK’s most prestigious business awards. The most innovative UK companies are invited to apply and get global recognition. But don’t just take Her Majesty’s word for it, we hear from two British Marine members who have won one of these illustrious awards and are reaping the benefits.
Based on the Isle of Wight, this world renowned designer and manufacturer of ropeholding and personal safety products has won multiple Queen’s Enterprise Awards. In 2016 Spinlock won its first award, for International Trade. And in 2017 it picked up a second award, but this time for Innovation.
Spinlock’s CEO, Chris Hill, explains why they applied and the benefits they have seen: “Awards don’t always acknowledge all the work done by a company, but a Queen’s Award recognises the whole business for its successes. The application process itself gets the company looking inward and requires you to undertake a really useful audit process. The awards are held in such high esteem around the world and so to have won it twice, for exporting and innovation, has been a real boost to Spinlock the company and Spinlock the brand.”
Set up in 2000 and based in Winchester, DSNM is one of the world’s leaders in superyacht navigation. They won their first Queen’s Enterprise Award in 2017 for International Trade.
Fleet Director, Martin Amy, explains their reasons for applying and what the award has meant to the company: “The award is held in great esteem by foreign entities, they know that companies with the warrant are worthy stakeholders. If you like, the magic of the award rubs off on them too! We wanted that. And we saw an impact almost immediately. We’ve seen an increase in interest from the Middle East and U.S. companies, with doors opening in areas previously inaccessible to us, seemingly driven by a desire to be associated with such a significant accolade.”
About the Queen’s Enterprise Awards
The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise recognise the contributions and outstanding achievement of UK businesses in the following categories:
- innovation
- international trade
- sustainable development
- promoting opportunity through social mobility
Nearly 7,000 companies have been awarded a Queen’s Award since they began in 1966. Previous winners have benefited from worldwide recognition and an increase in commercial value. They’ve also reported greater press coverage and a boost to staff morale.
If you win you’ll be:
- invited to a Royal reception at Buckingham Palace, hosted by Her Majesty The Queen
- presented the award at your company by one of The Queen’s representatives, a Lord-Lieutenant
- able to fly The Queen’s Award flag at your main office and use the emblem on your marketing materials
- given a Grant of Appointment and a commemorative crystal bowl
Competition information:
- you must apply before midday on Friday 1 September 2017
- most UK businesses (including non-profits) can apply
- you must apply online
- you may apply for more than one category
- the awards are valid for 5 years
Click the link for more information on the Award and how to apply – https://www.gov.uk/queens-awards-for-enterprise
