Queen's Award win helps order Books

Winners of the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, including businesses in North Wales, say recognition has helped drive new orders their way and improved staff morale.

Companies which were successful in this year’s scheme included Flintshire-based explosion prevention expert Epsilon and Wrexham-based vehicle components business International Transmissions which increased its exports by 126% over three years.

Stephen Brice, secretary of the Queen’s Awards Office, said: “Of the 145 businesses who won in 2006, 79% felt it had helped staff morale which led to a more highly motivated and productive workforce.”

“Seventy per cent of them felt the award had brought an added commercial value to the firm and 25% noticed a significant increase in new business.”

The scheme has categories for international trade, innovation and environmental achievement, and an award for enterprise promotion which is made to people who develop enterprise skills in others.

The Queen makes the awards on the advice of the Prime Minster who is assisted by an advisory committee.

David Moore, secretary of the committee said: “This year we had 683 applications across the UK, which was a record low. But we did notice a significant increase in the quality of those applications. Of the 683 applications, 22 came from Wales, resulting in three awards, two of them in North Wales.”

“Our principal message to companies in North Wales is that there is a great deal to gain, and certainly, nothing to lose, by applying for the Queen’s Award because if you are successful you receive an award which is a powerful marketing tool and does a great deal for the morale of your staff.

If you are unsuccessful on your first attempt you have benchmarking of your business against the best in the UK and get valuable feedback.”

The closing date for the 2008 awards is October 31. Enter at www.queensawards.org.uk

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