Firms receive the highest honour from the Queen

Businesses secretary Sajid Javid today named the 243 winners of the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise and the five individual recipients of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion.

This year’s winners were UK businesses leading the way in a broad range of industries – from cloud computing and medical device manufacture, to pet health and sports broadcasting.

Seven businesses received awards for sustainable development, with a further 92 awards presented for innovation. The international trade category had 150 winners

Mr Javid said: ‘The Queen’s Awards are a great way of celebrating the best of British business.

‘Whether you’re a disruptive start-up making life easier for your customers or a large company with a blockbuster product, these awards recognise your contribution to enterprise.

‘We are a country full of exciting and innovative businesses that deserve to be celebrated. I’d like to commend all the winners for their hard work in creating jobs for people and driving our growing economy.’

Widely regarded as the most prestigious business awards in the country, 2016 marks the 50th anniversary for the winners of the Queen’s Awards scheme in what is also Her Majesty the Queen’s 90th birthday year. The winning businesses will also be able to use the esteemed Queen’s Awards emblem for the next five years.

In addition, five people nominated by their peers were recognised with the Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion.

Receiving awards in The News area were;

n Dryad Maritime Ltd, of Kingston Crescent, Portsmouth (innovation)

n Forces Support, which was set up by veteran Bill McCance from Portsmouth (innovation)

n Morgan Innovation & Technology Ltd, of Petersfield Business Park (international trade)

n Spinlock Ltd, which is partners with Ben Ainslie Racing (international trade)

n Willard Conservation Ltd, from Chichester (international trade)

n Captec Ltd, from Segensworth (international trade)

n Apetito, which supplies meals to Hampshire County Council (innovation)

Life-jacket company’s success

INNOVATIVE company Spinlock was handed Britain’s top business award for its part in boosting the country’s international trade.

Spinlock was awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for its presence in the global marine market.

Despite its relatively small staff of 50 employees, Spinlock is the world’s top brand for rope-holding technology, which is used on hundreds of thousands of yachts of all sizes worldwide.

Spinlock is the official technical supplier of personal protective equipment to the Ben Ainslie Racing (BAR) team. It is also the world’s leading life-jacket brand and has seen substantial growth overseas over the past six years.

Chris Hill, CEO of the Cowes-based company, said: ‘This award recognises our ability to turn successfully designed products into a commercial success on a global scale.’

Manufacturer’s second award

MANUFACTURER Morgan Innovation & Technology is celebrating being awarded a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade for the second time.

Morgan IAT, based in Petersfield, won the accolade for its growth and commercial success in international trade. Its turnover has grown from £1.8m in 2010 to nearly £5m in 2015. It exports over 90 per cent.

Sue Clarke, managing director of Morgan IAT, set up the company with her engineer husband, Howard Clarke in 1987.

A specialist medical manufacturer, Morgan IAT has plans to expand its general commercial manufacturing capability.

Nigel Clarke, CEO, said: ‘We are looking forward to the boost that we know this award will give to our business. We want to expand to handle more high-value, low-volume commercial and medical goods.’