Queens Award is pinnacle for business achievement
"To earn this award has been a massive team effort. We employ 110 people, some of whom have been with us for 20 or 30 years, and this award is for every one of them."
The Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire, Tim Cox, and Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands,Louise Bennett OBE, are urging Warwickshire and Coventry-based companies to apply for a Queen’s Award for Enterprise (QAE).
The QAE is the highest accolade available to UK businesses and brings unparalleled prestige, exposure, and credibility to a company as well as pride and inspiration to employees.
Successful companies can fly the Queen’s Award flag and use the emblem on marketing materials for up to five years. They are invited to a Royal reception and presented with their award by the Lord Lieutenant, The Queen’s representative in the county.
The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are presented for outstanding achievement in four categories: Innovation, International Trade, Sustainable Development and Promoting Opportunity (through social mobility). Key benefits include improving opportunities to break into new markets, attracting new investment, raising awareness of brand and products, attracting new talent, and raising employee morale.
One business which is already enjoying those benefits, having recently received a Queen's Award for Enterprise inInternational Trade 2022, is MNB Precision on the Warwickshire/Coventry border.
In the last six years, the family-run engineering firm has increased its exports from five per cent of its turnover to 75 per cent.
MNB director Luke Benton said: "We are immensely proud to have received a Queen's Award for Enterprise. The moment that I found out is one that, as a business owner, I will look back on forever.
"This has been a massive team effort. We employ 110 people, some of whom have been with us for 20 or 30 years, and this award is for every one of them. Without them we could not have achieved the growth we have and to see their hard work rewarded with such a prestigious award is fantastic. I would encourage all businesses to think seriously about applying for a Queen's Award.”
Businesses can find out more about what is entailed at a free Queen’s Award Masterclass event at Woodland Grange Conference Centre & Hotel, Leamington Spa on the afternoon of May 12.
The event has been organised by the Warwickshire Lieutenancy in collaboration with Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, The Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership, Warwickshire County Council, and Warwick Manufacturing Group.
The Warwickshire team has prepared a locally focused brochure on the benefits of the QAE and the appropriate steps that can be followed to apply for a QAE, which is available at https://api.warwickshire.gov.uk/documents/WCCC-1980322935-2072
Tim Cox said: “I am keen to see more Warwickshire companies applying for The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise. They are the highest accolade available to UK businesses and offer unparalleled prestige, exposure and credibility to your company.”
Louise Bennett OBE said: “There is not a stronger accolade for a business, voluntary organisation, or charity than to achieve a Queen's Award. The enrichment to a company’s brand and how it can open doors to new markets and new customers is unrivalled. It also enhances your reputation and can be a real positive for staff."
Cllr Kam Kaur, Portfolio Holder for Economy and Place, said: "Warwickshire has a very proud record of innovation and, increasingly, the county is at the heart of development in sustainable technologies.
"The County Council works closely with many of these enterprises, and I am pleased that we are looking to collaborate again to help them gain this accolade and grow their business and its prestige."
To book a place to attend the free QAE Masterclass event on 12 May 2022, visit: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/queens-awards-for-enterprise-masterclass-tickets-303407729687
To find out more about The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, visit www.gov.uk/queens-awards-for-enterprise