Businesses that win a Queen's Award receive extensive benefits. A survey of last year's winners found that, in the first year alone three quarters experienced extra press coverage; 82% saw an increase in employee engagement; and nearly two thirds of winners in the International Trade category either increased their recognition abroad or generated new business, say the organisers.
It costs nothing to enter The Queen's Awards, and companies have until 2pm on 30 October 2009 to submit their application. Entry forms can be downloaded from The Queen's Awards website (www.queensawards.org.uk). Winners will be announced on The Queen's Birthday, 21 April 2010.
Any UK-based business with two or more employees that can demonstrate outstanding and sustained commercial success in its field has a chance of winning a Queen's Award. There are three categories of Award: International Trade, Innovation and Sustainable Development.
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson, comments: "The UK has some of the most enterprising companies in the world, from large multinationals to dynamic small businesses. The Queen's Awards exist to give national and international recognition to the achievements of those firms. A Queen's Award is the ultimate standard of business excellence, and something I believe all firms should aspire to."
In April this year, a record number of 194 Queen's Awards were announced by Her Majesty The Queen. Amongst this year's winners were architects Chapman Taylor, retail design consultancy JHP Design, fashion house Paul Smith Ltd, commercial flooring company, theatre and live event technology firm Stage Technologies, soft furnishing makers Ashley Wilde Group, and three contract furniture designers (Burgess Furniture, Zoeftig and Boss Design).
(Jim Evans)
