The Parliamentary Yearbook is, in recognition of UK business commercial success and outstanding achievement, carrying a major feature in the next edition on the Queen’s awards for Enterprise, the UK’s most prestigious awards for business.

1. The Queen’s Awards For Enterprise
The Parliamentary Yearbook is, in recognition of UK business commercial success
and outstanding achievement, carrying a major feature in the next edition on the
Queen’s awards for Enterprise, the UK’s most prestigious awards for business.
Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk last week called on the most innovative
companies in the UK to step forward to be in with a chance of winning a prestigious business
award from Her Majesty the Queen.
The Minister made the call for companies to enter the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise as
some of the most innovative regional firms showcased their talents at the Department for
Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) in Sheffield.
The Queen’s Awards Scheme, originally known as ‘The Queen’s Award to Industry’, was
instituted by Royal Warrant in 1966 following the recommendations of a committee chaired
by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. The purpose of the scheme was to encourage UK
businesses to innovate and export more to help the UK out of an adverse balance of
payments situation that was prevalent at the time. The awards have been in existence for
over 40 years, and they continue to be the UK’s most prestigious awards for business
performance. In today’s global economy, where the rate of change and the level of
competition are unprecedented, it is important that the UK continues to be highly flexible and
innovative to ensure future wealth creation and continued growth in the UK economy.
The awards are made annually by HM The Queen, and are only given for the highest levels
of excellence demonstrated in each category. They are judged to a demanding level and
winners receive a number of benefits and worldwide recognition. Previous corporate winners
have come from a diverse selection of business sectors and have included large and small
businesses. Recipients of the individual award have been from varied social and
professional backgrounds.
The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are bestowed by Her Majesty The Queen in three
categories: Innovation, International Trade and Sustainable Development.
The Awards provide global recognition that a company is amongst the best in its field.
Winning can boost staff morale, lead to an increase in sales and improve media coverage.
All winners can display the Awards emblem for five years and are invited to attend a
reception at Buckingham Palace. Winners also receive a Grant of Appointment certificate
and a crystal chalice.
There is also an award for individuals – the Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion – for
which people are free to nominate others who they believe are worthy of recognition for
promoting enterprise.
Some of this year’s winners are presenting their products to the public in South Yorkshire.
The displays include recycled fabrics from Camira Fabrics Ltd and specialised industrial
clothing from Microgard Ltd. The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise showcase will be on display
from Friday, 17 August until Tuesday, 4 September at BIS, St Paul’s Place, Sheffield.

2. Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk said:
“The quality of winners from the 2012 Queen’s Awards for Enterprise was the highest ever,
with over 200 companies being recognised across the UK, and 20 alone from Yorkshire and
the Humber. The companies on display in Sheffield are a credit to local and national
business as their determination and success will help boost the UK economy.
“The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise can make a real difference to a business’s prospects
and provide national recognition for outstanding achievements. I would encourage
companies from across the UK to apply for next year’s awards and make 2013 even more
successful than this record breaking year of enterprise.”
Entry is now open for the 2013 Queen’s Awards for Enterprise and will close on Friday, 28
September 2012. The winners of the 2012 awards have been invited to attend a special
reception at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, 13 November.
This year the Government is running the Business in You campaign to inspire more people
to start or grow their business backed by a range of existing business support services
provided by the public and private sectors.
The companies that are taking part in the Sheffield showcase are; Boxford Ltd, King Cole
Ltd, Melett Ltd, Camira Fabrics Ltd, Microgard Ltd and Pace.
The Government's economic policy objective is to achieve 'strong, sustainable and balanced
growth that is more evenly shared across the country and between industries.' It set four
ambitions in the ‘Plan for Growth’ published at Budget 2011:
 To create the most competitive tax system in the G20
 To make the UK the best place in Europe to start, finance and grow a business
 To encourage investment and exports as a route to a more balanced economy
 To create a more educated workforce that is the most flexible in Europe.
Work is underway across Government to achieve these ambitions, including progress on
more than 250 measures as part of the Growth Review. Developing an Industrial Strategy
gives new impetus to this work by providing businesses, investors and the public with more
clarity about the long-term direction in which the Government wants the economy to travel.
Further news on the Awards will be covered by the Parliamentary Year book and there will
be a major feature on the topic in the next edition
Web: www.parliamentaryyearbook.co.uk