Queen’s Award gets your business ‘knighted’
Perthshire businesses are being urged to submit their applications for the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise - the UK’s most prestigious awards for businesses.
With international credibility, the awards offer a level of recognition that can propel local businesses onto a global stage.
Coined by Charlie Gallagher, deputy lord lieutenant for Perth and Kinross, as “the knighthood of business awards”, the Queen’s Awards present a plethora of business benefits to successful applicants, providing them with competitive edge and substantial credibility.
Winners become globally recognised as‘ outstanding British businesses’ and the awards emblem itself represents a ‘royal seal of approval ’which can be used across all marketing material.
World leading local engineering firm, Merlin ERD Ltd, has won two Queens Awards for Enterprise and found these invaluable, not only through the credibility these bring, but also the networks they open.
“Winning our Queens Awards was transformational for our business” states Merlin’s founder and chairman, Iain Hutchison. “The application process alone is invaluable, requiring a candid account of key business metrics and your plans to be better.”
Winners are invited to Buckingham Palace and Iain describes chatting to Her Majesty The Queen as a surreal moment he will never forget.
The awards are designed to recognise and encourage outstanding achievements in the fields of innovation, international trade, sustainable development and promoting opportunity (through social mobility).
Each award has its own eligibility criteria and, providing these are met, all local businesses including not-forprofit can apply.
The deadline for applications is September 9, 2020 and Perthshire Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Lord Lieutenant Stephen Leckie’s office, is offering support to all local businesses during their application process.
A virtual support session is taking place this Friday (August 28) at noon, chaired by Lord-Lieutenant Stephen Leckie, Iain Hutchison, Merlin ERD and advisors, which will explore the benefits of winning an award and offer practical advice on how to enter.
More details on this event can be found on the Perthshire Chamber of Commerce website.
Stephen Leckie, Lord Lieutenant, Perth and Kinross, said: “We have an abundance of thriving businesses in the Perth and Kinross community that deserve to be recognised for their outstanding contributions to society and the economy.
“Winning a Queen’s Award is a significant milestone offering local, national and international recognition.”