The Queen’s Award for Enterprise are the UK’s most prestigious awards for business performance.  Winners receive a range of benefits including worldwide recognition and extensive press coverage.

The awards are presented for businesses or individuals. There are three categories for business:  Innovation, International Trade and Sustainable Development, and are open to all business units that meet certain entry criteria, and one for Enterprising Individuals.

Winners are announced on 21 April each year, which is The Queen’s personal birthday.

Further details of the award categories are set out below, but if you would like to receive an application form or require further details please visit The Queen’s Award for Enterprise Website www.queensawards.org.uk

International Trade – business units must be able to demonstrate substantial growth in overseas earnings and commercial success, to levels that are outstanding for the goods or services concerned and for the size of the applicant’s operations.

Innovation – business units must be able to demonstrate substantial improvement in business performance and commercial success, to levels that are outstanding for the size of the applicant’s operations.  Businesses may apply under either of the following criteria:

Achievements may be assessed for any of the following:  the invention, design, production (of goods), performance (of services, including advice), marketing, distribution, and after sale support, (of goods or services).

Sustainable Development – business units must be able to demonstrate substantial improvement in business performance and commercial success, to levels that are outstanding for the size of the applicant’s operations.  Businesses may apply under either of the following criteria:

The Queen's Awards for Enterprise Promotion celebrate and recognise the activities of individuals who make outstanding contributions to enterprise culture in the UK. Up to ten Awards are granted each year and a single Lifetime Achievement Award may also be given for consistent and high quality promotion of an enterprise culture over a substantial period of time.

Encouraging or facilitating the sort of skills and attitudes found in an enterprise environment – whether in a commercial business or a social enterprise – is the essence of ‘Enterprise Promotion’.

Individual recipients receive an engraved crystal item and their Grant of Appointment at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

The Lord-Lieutenant makes presentations to companies, on behalf of The Queen, of an engraved crystal bowl and a Grant of Appointment.