What is the Process for Winning a Queen’s Award for Enterprise?

Have you ever considered applying for the Queen’s Award for Enterprise? If you own or run a business, no matter the size, you can apply. The Queen’s Award for Enterprise was created to encourage new businesses that are thriving to champion themselves. It’s a great feather in the cap of any business, offering benefits beyond the trophy and ceremony. Take a look at our guide to see what you need to know about applying for the Queen’s Award.

Do you qualify for a Queen’s Award for Enterprise?

Qualifying for a Queen’s Award for Enterprise is actually pretty simple. As a business, you only need to be a self-contained enterprise marketing your own products and services under your own management that is based in the UK, including the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, with at least two full-time employees or as many part-time staff. You also need to be filing your Company Tax Returns with HM Revenue and Customs and demonstrate impressive corporate social responsibility.

But those are the basic requirements. Each of the categories to apply for have its own requirements for application, which you can find on the UK government website.

What category could you win?

There are four categories you could be placed in. You could join the likes of Angela Spang, who won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for the Galaxy II self-retaining retractor in the innovation category, or Cares Laboratory Ltd. which creates cleaning supplies for everyday problems. But there is also sustainable development, international trade, and promoting opportunity through social mobility.

The innovation award is about rewarding new innovative products that haven’t been sold before. The international trade award rewards businesses that have achieved outstanding growth overseas. Sustainable development is about showing how your business can thrive and grow over at least two years, and the social mobility award is about supporting disadvantaged people.

What happens if you win?

The winners will be officially announced in the London Gazette in April 2023, but the winning organisations will be notified beforehand. If you win, you will be invited to be presented with your award by a representative of The Queen, in this instance a Lord-Lieutenant, for a lavish Royal reception as a celebratory event.

Your prize will be an official certificate of the Grant of Appointment, and you will receive a beautiful crystal trophy as an award. These awards are valid for five years. However, all of that comes secondary to the increased commercial value, worldwide recognition of the emblem, press coverage and boost to staff morale which are lasting effects of winning The Queens Award for Enterprise.

But there are also marketing perks. You will also be permitted to fly The Queen’s Awards flag at your main office and to use the emblem on things like your packaging, advertisements, stationary, websites, socials, etc.

The applications have been open since 1 May 2022 for the 2023 awards but closed on the 6th of September. Anyone who applied will be notified in October of their status. If you’re looking to apply next year, you can visit the UK.Gov website for details on the application process. 

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