QUEEN’S AWARDS FOR ENTERPRISE

The most prestigious awards for UK businesses

Eligibility criteria Company must: be based in the UK; file its Tax Returns with HM Revenue and Customs;  be a self-contained enterprise; have at least two full-time UK employees or part-time equivalents; demonstrate strong corporate social responsibility

Award categories The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise recognise and reward the outstanding achievements of UK businesses in the fields of: Innovation Sustainable Development Promoting Opportunity (through social mobility) International Trade

The Awards cycle Open for new round of applications (early May) Application process closes (mid-Sept) Assessment of Entries (Sept-Oct) Winners Announced (21 April) Winners Approved (March) Panel of Judges (Jan- Feb) Due Diligence (Nov)

2018 Queen’s Awards winners 8 double winners

2018 Queen’s Awards winners 152 in international trade 72 in innovation 8 in sustainable development 6 in promoting opportunity

Benefits of winning a Queen’s Award Global recognition that your company is outstanding in its field Boost staff morale Increase sales Increase exports Potential opportunities to work with government on the development and testing of policies and initiatives Buckingham Palace Celebration Reception 73% of winners in the International Trade category directly attributed increased sales to winning a Queen’s Award* *research of International Trade winners between 2012—2015 conducted by the University of Strathclyde

Application guidance: Innovation Some of the things we are looking for: Plain English when describing your innovation Your story: the challenges you have overcome why your innovation is unique how your innovation benefits your business, customers and others Quantitative and qualitative evidence to support your claim

Application guidance: International Trade Some of the things we are looking for: Plain English when describing your product Your story: why is penetration of a particular market an achievement? E.g., are you the first, leading, fastest growing UK exporter in this market? why is your performance better than that of competitors? what challenges have affected your trade and how you overcame them? Quantitative and qualitative evidence to support your claim

Application guidance: Promoting Opportunity Some of the things we are looking for: Plain English when describing your social mobility programme Your commitment to access and retain talent, despite this not being your core business Senior decision makers’ commitment to the future growth of the social mobility programme Evidence on how the programme benefits your organisation, community, staff and workforce Evidence on how your organisation improved the employability of the people engaged in your programme

Application guidance: Sustainable Development Some of the things we are looking for: Plain English when describing your SD approach Contribution to each of these outcomes: Environmental outcomes (you can refer to The Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan, Government’s Clean Growth Strategy and Industrial Strategy) Social outcomes (i.e., working towards the needs of people in the communities) Economic outcomes (building an economy which provides prosperity and opportunity for all, promotes innovation and encourages lifelong learning) Sector leading sustainability performance, e.g. overcoming important challenges that are specific to your sector. Quantitative and qualitative evidence to support your claim

Get more information queensawards@beis.gov.uk 020 7215 6880 www.gov.uk/queens-awards-for-enterprise @TheQueensAwards