Tonight (Wednesday 18 July), members of 117 companies that won The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise 2007 will meet The Queen and other Members of the Royal Family at a reception at Buckingham Palace.
Three members of each winning company, representing both management and staff, have been invited to the Buckingham Palace reception, which will also be attended by the Minister of State for Competitiveness, Rt Hon Stephen Timms MP.
Across the UK, 117 organisations large and small – winning 119 Awards, since two have won in more than one category – were successful in the business categories of The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise 2007. They range from two small firms with three employees to an international giant employing more than 68,000. Winners come from almost every corner of the UK and include the world’s largest privately owned yacht builder, a high street fashion retailer, an internationally recognised visitor attraction, a manufacturer of novel immuno-diagnostic kits for use in diagnosing and monitoring multiple myeloma (a type of bone cancer), a company that provides financial services to the voluntary sector and a business recognised for the promotion of sustainable manufacturing practice in the UK’s furniture making industry.
The Queen's Awards for Enterprise differ from personal honours because they recognise the achievement of the successful business unit as a whole - management and employees working as a team. They are awarded in three categories: International Trade (recognising an outstanding or continuous achievement in overseas earnings); Innovation (for commercially successful and innovative products and services); and Sustainable Development (covering commercially successful products and services and approaches to management that have major benefits from the environment, society and the UK economy).
Her Majesty will also meet recipients of The Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion 2007. This Award recognises the work of outstanding individuals from both the private and public sector who have promoted the growth of enterprise and entrepreneurial skills and attitudes in others. Ten recipients of the Award and a Lifetime Achievement Award recipient will be attending the reception to receive their Award, which will be presented by HRH The Duke of York. The Award consists of an engraved crystal chalice and a Grant of Appointment. The Award recipients will be accompanied by a guest and their nominator.
