Enterprise showcase gets royal seal of approval

Business Minister Mark Prisk is urging the UK’s most innovative businesses to apply for a prestigious award from Her Majesty The Queen.

Mr Prisk called for firms of all sizes to enter the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise as he met with some of its winners at a showcase held in their honour at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) recently.

Started in 1966, the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are the UK’s highest accolade for business success. The award is given to outstanding UK companies leading the way in international trade, innovation and sustainable development. The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise Promotion also celebrate individuals who make outstanding contributions to enterprise culture.

Business Minister Mark Prisk says he has been very impressed by the entries to this year’s awards: “Of the 209 winners, 180 are small and medium sized businesses and almost half are from manufacturing. This demonstrates how smaller businesses and the manufacturing industry can drive growth for UK PLC. I encourage firms to get involved and submit their entries for next year’s awards.

“This showcase forms part of a package of initiatives and programmes Government is leading to show how innovative and world-leading our manufacturing base is here in the UK.

“For example, businesses up and down the country are opening their factories to visitors this month as part of our See Inside Manufacturing campaign. Also, the Make it in Great Britain campaign, which is dispelling the myth that we don’t make anything in the UK anymore, will culminate during the Olympic and Paralympic Games at an exhibit at the Science Museum.

“Rightfully so, image is important, but we also need to ensure that businesses get the support they need to grow. This is why we have rolled out initiatives such as the £125 million Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative and recently re-launched the Manufacturing Advisory Service.”

Entry is now open for the 2013 Queen’s Awards for Enterprise and will close on 28th September 2012.