Posted on Thursday 17th June 2021
Businesses from across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent are being urged to apply for the prestigious 2022 Queen’s Awards for Enterprise.
The highly regarded awards represent the gold standard for recognition of business achievement. They provide winners with the opportunity to develop their businesses further.
The awards are open to UK-based businesses, including not-for-profit organisations, with a high proportion of winners being small to medium enterprises.
Awards are made for outstanding achievement in four categories: International Trade, Promoting Opportunity through Social Mobility, Innovation and Sustainable Development. And businesses can apply in more than one category.
Applications for the 2022 awards are open now and will close on September 8.
Applications are free and are made online. Full details at https://www.gov.uk/queens-awards-for-enterprise
Winners say that the royal endorsement gets their business noticed above and beyond the competition both home and abroad. Other benefits include excellent marketing opportunities including the use of the QAE emblem on marketing material, national and regional press coverage, worldwide recognition as an outstanding British company, increased turnover and international trade and a boost to staff morale, business partners and stakeholders.
Two-hundred-and-five companies were successful in the 2021 awards where the winners were announced recently. Of those 92 per cent were small/medium businesses, five were double winners and 44 had less than 10 employees.
Award winners are permitted to use the recognised Royal Emblem for five years. The awards are presented by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant and two representatives are invited to a celebratory royal reception at Buckingham Palace.
David Gage MBE DL, Staffordshire Deputy Lieutenant and Panel Champion for Business and Enterprise said
This year’s awards have shown once again that Staffordshire is a truly enterprising county. These are prestigious awards which recognise our best and supports them to grow further.
More than anything I encourage small businesses to apply and not to think that these awards are for larger organisations only.”
This year there were three winners from Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent:
• L A International Computer Consultants Limited, Stoke-on-Trent - International Trade
• Laundry Efficiency Limited, Cannock - Sustainable Development
• YMCA North Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent - Promoting Opportunity