geshire
And on the flip side, what would you say is the biggest difference between the Britain of 1966 and the Britain of 2022? Would you say that the landscape of the UK, as a place to work in, has changed drastically over the past 50+ years? The UK has moved from a focus on heavy industry and manufacturing to a more balanced and diverse economy built on a broad industrial and service sector base. Today there’s an increasing emphasis on businesses that are developing innovative, pioneering, sustainable solutions to meet national and international demands, both currently and in the future. Many of the companies that win an Award consider it the most prestigious accolade a business can receive. Do you think this has always been the case or have the Awards become more important over time? With the hallmark of Her Majesty the Queen front and centre in the Award, it has always been seen and recognised as the epitome of the ‘Best of British’. For me, it is the Knighthood for Business Organisations; many winners say it’s their MBE! Certainly the companies I visit exude the excellence of a Knighthood. How do you think the Queens Award is regarded overseas? Do you think having an award gives a company more clout when trading internationally? From what companies tell me they are often at the table talking with potential customers while their competitors without a QAE are, metaphorically, waiting outside the door! A three-time QAE winning CEO told me that absolutely no other award has helped his business in the way the QAE has. Of course, this year marks the Platinum Jubilee. What does this landmark event mean to you personally? The Platinum Jubilee is an opportunity to celebrate the life and selfless support of Her Majesty the Queen who, during the last 70 years, has done whatever she can to encourage the development of a vibrant British society.
We are pioneering a Cambridgeshire County Day on 23rd June 2022 where we are celebrating the best of the best and inspiring the next generation to be the best. As might be expected, our region’s Queen’s Award for Enterprise winners will play a prominent role. This year it has been such a reminder to all the businesses I have given Queen’s Awards to, when they receive their deed of assignment and hear “given in the 70th year of our reign” read out, that it truly exemplifies Her Majesty’s commitment and makes the Award even more special. Subsequent winners will hear that their Award is “made in the 71st year of our reign”, an accomplishment that may never be repeated.
And finally, how do you see the Queen’s Award developing in the future? It must, and I am sure, will, continue to evolve with the evolution of society and encourage and reward businesses that are exponents of British excellence. So, do you think it will still be going strong when Prince George ascends to the throne? With the continued evolution of the Award to meet the demands of the day, and with continued commitment to recognise our best, it will definitely thrive well beyond Prince George. Every nation needs to set the standards and celebrate those organisations that keep them at the forefront. The impact of a Queen’s Award (or a future King’s Award) on companies’ morale and confidence in general should never be underestimated. n
Queen’s Awards Magazine 2022
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