That’s the message from Essex Lord-Lieutenant Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst when she launched a new Business Excellence in Essex initiative this week (Tuesday, May 14).
Companies, large and small, are being encouraged to enter the prestigious Queen’s Awards for Enterprise designed to recognise and encourage outstanding achievements.
Winning businesses said Mrs Tolhurst, can gain a number of benefits to help them thrive in a challenging economy.
Mrs Tolhurst said: “The Queens Award is a royal seal of approval for the UK’s most outstanding businesses.
“They are the most prestigious awards for UK businesses and all past winners have found that the award has brought many commercial benefits as well as boosting staff morale.”
The launch, at Braxted Park, Witham, was attended by nearly 150 leading business representatives, including past winners of the awards, and civic leaders.
A new 32-page brochure at the centre of the initiative, outlines how to enter the awards which are open to businesses with more than two full-time employees. Most winning companies have fewer than 250 employees.
There are four entry categories: international trade, innovation, sustainable development and promoting opportunity through social mobility.
The award is valid for five years and benefits include national and global recognition, marketing opportunities. added commercial value and increased trade, a boost to staff morale and use of the award emblem on stationery, website and advertising.
Stuart Burns from Dura Composites which won the award in 2017, said: “Winning the Queen’s Award has brought an immense sense of pride both for our UK team and our overseas distribution partners and has opened new doors for us.
“We fly the Queen’s Award flag at each of our premises and include it within our livery, marketing materials and product packaging wherever possible to help give us the edge over our competitors. It has also been a great boost to staff morale and has undoubtedly instilled confidence and pride in employees at all levels.”
Group Managing Director, Christopher Gallop, from one of this year’s winning companies, Cloudfm said: “Our employees and supply chain partners are incredibly proud for Cloudfm to have been recognised for our transformative technology-led solution, as well as our advanced systems and processes that benefit both clients and suppliers. We are anticipating an increase in our already strong competitive edge and are already benefiting from additional commercial value to our business.”
Other previous winning businesses at the launch were Excalibur Screwbolts from Hockley, Road Safety Support from Billericay, Airline Component Services from Braintree and Ground Control from Billericay.
Mrs Tolhurst said: “Essex has the great benefit of many highly successful companies, large and small, which are the life-blood of our county. As the Lord-Lieutenant, I am keen to promote this commercial success and to ensure that it receives maximum recognition through the prestigious Queen’s Awards for Enterprise.”
Last year in the UK, 238 Awards were granted with 88 per cent going to small to medium size businesses.
