Harlow firms urged to apply for a prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise – now!

ALL businesses in Essex, especially smaller businesses, are now invited to apply for a prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise.

The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are the premier awards for UK businesses and more Essex companies are being encouraged to apply while this year’s applications are open.

The Queen’s Awards are open to all small, medium, or large businesses, as well as non-profit organisations, with more than two full-time employees. The majority of companies who win a Queen’s Award have fewer than 250 employees, but larger corporations are often winners too.

This year smaller companies, of which there are many in Essex, are especially encouraged to apply for an award.

It is free to apply for an award if you are UK-based, file tax returns with HMRC, and demonstrate strong corporate social responsibility.

The awards are designed to recognise and encourage outstanding achievements in four categories: Innovation, International Trade, Sustainable Development, and Promoting Opportunity. Each of these categories has specific entry criteria.

The Awards are announced annually on HM The Queen’s Birthday (21 April). Each year’s round opens for applications in May and closes in September, which means applications for an award next year are open right now.

The award is valid for five years and award-winners report a range of benefits, including national and global recognition, excellent marketing opportunities, and a reported boost in trade.

As an example of the benefits, 73 per cent of International Trade winners who achieved an award between 2012 and 2015 directly attribute increased international sales to winning the Award.

Councillor Tony Ball, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Economic Development, said: “Here in Essex we have a strong business start-up rate, which is also maintained in the county’s business survival rate.

“We know that many of the great businesses which operate in Essex are small firms and, while we are very proud of our bigger businesses, it is the smaller firms we are encouraging to apply for a Queen’s Award for Enterprise.

“These awards are for you, they will increase your business, help you grow, and boost your trading reputation. I urge any of the great firms we have here in Essex to apply.”

Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst, the Lord Lieutenant of Essex, said: “Essex has the great benefit of many highly successful companies, large and small, which are the life-blood of our county. As the Lord Lieutenant, I am keen to promote this commercial success and to ensure that it receives maximum recognition through the prestigious Queen’s Awards for Enterprise.”

Winners of the awards can use the Award emblem on business stationary, on websites and advertising and they gain permission to fly the Queen’s Awards flag at all company premises.

Previous winners of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise include:

Dura Composites LTD of Clacton on Sea won for International Trade in 2017
Kestrel Liner Agencies of Stansted won for International Trade in 2018 & 2010.
Rega Research LTD of Southend on Sea won for International Trade in 2015
Airline Component Services LTD of Braintree, won a Queen’s Award for International Trade in 2018. Graham Higgins, Technical Director of the company, said: “Winning the Queen’s Award has improved the profile and reputation of Airline Component Services. In an increasingly competitive market this has enhanced our credibility in the eyes of our customers, suppliers and competitors. Our employees feel more secure in their roles knowing that they are working for a reputable organisation with stable growth and proud they have contributed to the successes of their company.”

Presentation ceremonies are conducted at the winners’ premises, by the Lord-Lieutenant of Essex as HM The Queen’s representative in the county. The Awards consist of a Grant of Appointment and a presentational item bearing the Emblem.

Additionally, HM The Queen hosts a reception at Buckingham Palace for selected representatives of the winning companies.

To apply for a Queen’s Award, first register on The Queen’s Awards website – links to the application page and all details of who can apply for an award can be found at www.gov.uk/queens-awards-for-enterprise

All the criteria for entering a particular category of the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise can also be found on this page.

There is also a telephone helpline for any firm seeking to apply for a Queen’s Award, providing on-call help Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm – 0207 215 6880.