JUDGE’S NAME Marco Forgione
Winning a King's Award is a recognition that you and your team have gone the extra mile to achieve excellence
CATEGORY International Trade AREA OF INTEREST International Trade
Marco Forgione’s knowledge of international trade, combined with his experience in education, led him to be appointed Director General of the Institute of Export & International Trade (IOE&IT) in January 2020. Since he took on the role, the IOE&IT has grown from a team of twelve to over 150 international trade and customs experts, with overall membership growing from 2,000 to 7,000. The IOE&IT is now a trusted partner for governments, international agencies, global businesses and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) on every continent. In 2022, the IOE&IT opened its first international office in Kenya with plans to invest further and support the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), alongside the broader global trade agenda.
WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE TO BE A JUDGE FOR THE KING’S AWARDS? As the director general of the UK's leading trade body for international trade (IOE&IT), I am in a unique position to engage with the nation's importers and exporters on a regular basis. Winning a King's Award is the pinnacle of success for British businesses and I am proud to be part of the judging panel recognising this excellence. WHY DO THE KING’S AWARDS MATTER TO BUSINESS? It is right that we celebrate exporting in this way and recognise the hard work that these companies have put in to achieve what they have to date. We want to encourage more companies to start their own export journey because we know that companies which export are more profitable, employ more people and are more resilient. WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING A KING’S AWARD JUDGE? The most enjoyable aspect of being a King's Award judge is being able to see first-hand the innovation and ingenuity of British businesses. Every year we get a new cohort of companies that have gone above and beyond to grow their footprint on an international scale. It is only right that we recognise their hard work and dedication. As a judge it is a great privilege to be part of their story. The journey of these companies does not just stop when they achieve King's Award status. For me, the most exciting part is seeing how the winners continue to develop and grow after receiving the award. WHAT SPARKS YOUR INTEREST ACROSS KING’S AWARD APPLICANTS THIS YEAR? I’d like to congratulate all the winners of both the King's Awards and the first King’s Awards for Enterprise. The range of sectors represented is testament to the creativity and diversity of the UK economy. The diversity of the companies that have won the awards for international trade shows the incredible variety of goods and services the UK exports. This is good for the business and good for the whole UK economy.
WHAT’S YOUR TOP TIP FOR A COMPANY THAT IS THINKING OF APPLYING FOR A KING’S AWARD? My top tip would just be to apply. The King's Award is a mark of excellence and if you're an organisation that excels at international trade, innovation, sustainable development or promoting opportunity, then you should look to be recognised for that. This is the most prestigious official UK award for British businesses and is revered around the world, which can help businesses get to the next level.. DESCRIBE THE BENEFITS OF BEING A KING’S AWARDS WINNER, AS YOU SEE IT There are multiple benefits to being recognised in the King's Awards. From the commercial perspective, it gives you an edge over your competition, home and abroad, when bidding for new business opportunities. Winning is also a boost for staff morale and brings a sense of unity to a company. Winning a King's Award is a recognition that you and your team have gone the extra mile to achieve excellence.
DESCRIBE A FEW FEATURES YOU BELIEVE MAKE BRITISH BUSINESSES SUCH A GLOBAL SUCCESS
The UK has always been a nation that advocates for the value of trade, and has always shown ingenuity and innovation in the goods and services it produces. Countless research studies have found that British goods and services are revered internationally for their quality, reliability and creativity. Brand Britain continues to thrive overseas, as shown by the successes of this year's King's Award winners.
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