You could be the story – with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise
Guest contributor Dominic Hopkins explains how your business could win recognition for excellence in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year.
We love a good story. We especially love a ‘good news’ story, and a ‘good news’ story about a business we know ticks all the boxes. It is inspiring to see companies in and about the region achieving outstanding success in their markets - domestically, overseas or both.
It drives us all on to do better; to achieve.
As we travel through this Platinum Jubilee year, there is no better time for outstanding businesses to put themselves forward for a Queen’s Award for Enterprise, to showcase their success. We know there are countless outstanding businesses in our region, many doing extraordinary things well below our radars; and many networking through Digital Northants.
So, here is the call. You can grasp the moment and consider the chance of becoming a recognised exemplar for your products or services in your markets and the region. You could join the likes of 2022 QAE winners, Diamond Hard Surfaces of Towcester and Bambino Mio, also from Northamptonshire.
A Queen’s Award for Enterprise offers recognition for a business’s achievements and validation for the whole workforce and the innovation, initiatives, products or services they have been delivering. Such validation can be a real fillip to staff morale, operate as a powerful selling tool and provide reassuring confidence for commercial partners.
Award categories
The categories of award are:
Innovation
International Trade
Sustainable Development
Promoting Opportunity through Social Mobility
All awards have a currency of five years and, when made, are presented by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of the county on behalf of the Sovereign. Recipients receive an invitation to a Royal Reception, as well as a fine crystal trophy and a certificate to exhibit their success. You can use the emblem on your marketing materials (including digital presences) and will receive considerable press coverage from official announcements.
Eligibility
As long as you are based in the UK, have filed your tax returns, are a self-contained enterprise marketing your own products or services under your own management, have two full-time UK employees (or part-time equivalents) and can demonstrate good corporate social responsibility, then you should satisfy the general eligibility conditions.
For the ‘Innovation’ award, the judges are looking to recognise invention in the design or production of goods (technological development, for instance), in the performance of services, in marketing or distribution, or in after-sales support. As long as the innovation is novel and the prospect of a recovery of investment and a track record in the market and commercial success can be demonstrated over the applicable qualifying periods, then you have a chance.
Eligibility for each individual award is explained on the BEIS website.
Unlike the National Honours system that recognises the contributions of individuals, a business can also self-nominate.
So, where there is something that might encourage you and your team by recognising your and their efforts and give your business a bit of an edge at a time when every little bit of edge helps, consider applying for a Queen’s Award.
Applications need to be in by noon on 22 September 2022.
Dominic Hopkins is a senior disputes lawyer at HCR Hewitsons, a member of their technology practice and Joint Head of Office in Northampton. He is the Under Sheriff of Northamptonshire, Deputy Lieutenant for the county and a member of the Honours Panel assisting Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant, Mr James Saunders Watson.