Top performing companies across the UK are being urged to apply now for the 2005 Queen’s Awards for Enterprise – and small entrepreneurs have as much chance as the region’s industrial giants to win the UK’s highest accolade for outstanding business success.
The 2004 Awards winners, for instance, range from the Prudential with more than 12,000 employees to an innovative Slough company with just two.
Nearly 180,000 organisations across the UK will receive information as part of a nationwide campaign to promote The Queen’s Awards scheme, which recognises and rewards exceptional achievements and advances in all areas of business. Applicants can also apply online at www.queensawards.org.uk
Stephen Brice, Acting Queen’s Awards Secretary, said: “Over the years nearly 4,800 organisations have won this prestigious Award, but we know there are many more talented firms out there and we want them to come forward to receive the recognition they deserve.
“Any firm of merit can enter - and size is irrelevant. There’s a misconception that only big companies win Queen’s Awards, but nearly a half of the 2004 winners have fewer than 50 employees and a score have fewer than 10. After all, small and medium sized companies employ 12 million people in the UK and contribute £1 trillion a year to our economy.
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“Any type of business unit can apply for a Queen’s Award in one or more of three categories: International Trade, Innovation and Sustainable Development. Minimum requirements are that entrants employ at least two people, are UK-based and are high achievers in their field.”
The prestige of being associated with The Queen’s Awards provides winners with a valuable promotional and marketing tool in an increasingly competitive domestic and global economy.
Winning companies are entitled to display The Queen’s Award emblem for five years. They benefit from the publicity surrounding the announcement of the winners on the Queen’s birthday (21 April), and enjoy further publicity when Lord Lieutenants visit company premises to present the Awards. The Queen also invites three members of each winning company to a special reception at Buckingham Palace.
Added Stephen Brice: “Even unsuccessful applicants benefit by receiving feedback detailing the strengths and weaknesses of their application, to help them to become Queen’s Awards winners of the future.”
Would-be Queen’s Awards winners should phone 0870 513 4486 or visit www.queensawards.org.uk/2005awards.htm for an application form. The deadline for this year’s Awards is 31 October 2004.
