Recognition for firms with special awards
He added: “We have so many great businesses in Perth and Kinross.
“The benefits of these awards are huge. It is recognised worldwide as a most prestigious award to get.
“The main thing is the recognition you get within your industry that you have achieved this award.
“There are four aspects to it – innovation, international trade, sustainable development and promoting opportunity through social mobility – so companies have quite a wide scope.
“Successful businesses are invited to a royal reception and companies can use the Queen’ Award logo, which thy can keep for five years.
“Our job is to really get this out there. “We really hope this time round we can get several companies coming forward.”
Stephen added: “We want to maximise the impact of this for companies across Perth and Kinross. We do really well in [ business] but do not shout about it enough.”
The pair point to the likes of SSE, Aviva, the Binn Group, Castle Water and many others as examples of businesses from the region who are making their mark on a global stage.
They are being supported in their efforts by Ian Hutchison, the chair of Merlin, who picked up a Queen’s Award in 2014 and 2016.
In an effort to get more businesses involved, Perthshire Chamber of Commerce is offering support, information sessions and testimonials from past winners to help out.
Stephen said: “The very process of entering can be a worthwhile and fruitful process in itself, requiring the company to look at how it all began, where it is now and what the future holds.
“Global competition is becoming more fierce every day and herein lies a terrific opportunity to gain some competitive advantage and potentially grow, or sustain, your business.”
The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are open to applications from almost all businesses of all sizes throughout the UK in every sector.
Benefits can include:
• The use of a recognised emblem that will get your business noticed, above and beyond the competition.
• Global recognition that your company is outstanding in its field.
• Increase in sales and growth
• Boost staff morale
• Invitation to attend a Buckingham Palace reception.
Seventy-three per cent of winners in the international trade category directly attributed increased sales to winning a Queen’s Award.
All applications must be made online and you may apply for more than one category.
The application process opens on May 1 and runs until September.
• See https://goo.gl/bDUQqx