The King’s Awards for Enterprise Magazine
2025
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Promoting Opportunity (Through Social Mobility)
Sustainable Development
Innovation
International Trade
Award Holders 2021 - 2024
We tender the loyal greetings of all King’s Awards recipients to His Majesty The King
It is with very great pleasure that we bring you the 2025 edition of the King’s Awards for Enterprise Magazine, our annual showcase spotlighting the esteemed winners of this year’s Awards. The King’s Award for Enterprise Magazine is proud to play its part in celebrating and championing Enterprise and Innovation, supporting His Majesty The King through the King’s Award for Enterprise. We would like to congratulate each and every winner of this year’s Awards across the four categories; International Trade, Innovation, Sustainable Development and Promoting Social Mobility. These distinct areas represent key pillars within the UK’s economic development so being acknowledged within these sectors through the Awards continues to be the highest honour a UK company can receive. The companies recognised by this year’s Awards are undoubtedly leaders and innovators within their respective fields. With ever increasing complexities in trading, and an increasingly competitive global market place, it is essential to the success of the United Kingdom that we maintain investment in growth and innovation. In this respect, the companies honoured in this year’s magazine and Awards really do continue to lead the way. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has offered his own “warmest congratulations” to the 197 businesses and organisations who have received The King’s Award for Enterprise in 2025. “It brings me great pleasure to be a part of a process which recognises so many outstanding organisations for their excellence in business,” he said. “This prestigious Award provides recipients with a mark of credibility and trust, which in turn strengthens their competition, elevates their profile, and allows them to gain recognition as an outstanding British business,” he added. However, these Awards signify more than achievement and the winning of an accolade. They embody resilience, purpose-driven innovation, and the unwavering global spirit of UK Enterprise. As you turn these pages, you will learn more about the businesses that are helping shape a sustainable, inclusive and vibrant economy. We are confident their stories will inspire you, ignite ideas and reaffirm our shared commitment to progress. We at the King’s Award for Enterprise Magazine and Nexus Media Events wish all of this year’s winners continued and ever greater success. Richard Stoppard Chief Executive Officer Nexus Media Events CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME
4 Letters of acknowledgement for the King’s Awards for Enterprise 6 About the King’s Awards for Enterprise 7 A breakdown of King’s Awards recipients 2025 8 The benefits of winning an award 10 The King’s Awards Reception 2024 12 Interview with the Lord-Lieutenant 14 Commemorating VE Day 16 Women in Enterprise 18 The Workshop Aberfeldy 21 Meet the judges behind the awards 41 International Trade category award recipients 81 Innovation category award recipients 101 Promoting Opportunity
(Through Social Mobility) category award recipients 111 Sustainable Development category award recipients 123 Award holders 2021 - 2024 134 Index of contributors
Registered in England Registered Number 01993193.
The King’s Awards for Enterprise Magazine would like to thank The King’s Awards Office and all of the businesses awarded in 2025, who have kindly given their assistance in the preparation of this magazine.
Registered Office: 208 Canalot Studios, 222 Kensal Road, London, W10 5BN Printing: The Magazine Printing Company, Broxbourne Business Centre, Pindar Road, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, EN11 0FJ Design: Antonio Manuel Front Cover image: Alamy Stock Photo
All rights reserved. No part of this document may be photocopied, recorded or otherwise stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any electronic means without the prior permission of the copyright owner. Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the contents of the book, Nexus Media Events bears no responsibility for any errors or consequences thereof, or for damage or loss of material submitted to the magazine. The publishers do not necessarily endorse or support facts and opinions expressed within this magazine, individual editorials and images having been supplied direct by The King’s Award winners who have chosen to be included in the publication.
ISSN 2041 9783 2025 © Nexus Media Events The King’s Awards for Enterprise Magazine® is published annually by Nexus Media Events Ltd 208 Canalot Studios, 222 Kensal Road, London, W10 5BN
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Congratulations to the 197 businesses and organisations who have been recognised with The King’s Award for Enterprise in 2025.
The King’s Awards play an integral role in helping UK companies to grow and expand, both at home and overseas. This prestigious Award provides recipients with a mark of credibility and trust, which in turn strengthens their competition, elevates their profile, and allows them to gain recognition as an outstanding British business.
Since their inception in 1965, the Awards continue to encapsulate the UK’s enterprising spirit, as one of many great legacies of HM Queen Elizabeth II’s reign.
It brings me great pleasure to be a part of a process which recognises so many outstanding organisations for their excellence in business, including for innovative technology and solutions, consumer technology, clean technology and agriculture.
My warmest congratulations to you all.
Sir Keir Starmer The Prime Minister
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I would like to congratulate all the winners of this year’s King’s Award for Enterprise. Their achievements highlight the dedication, creativity and resilience that continue to shape the UK’s business landscape, even in the face of on-going challenges. These winners set an example through their innovation and determination, reinforcing the importance of enterprise in driving growth. Their success is something to celebrate and should inspire businesses across the country. The Institute of Directors, as set out in our Royal Charter, remains dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship and supporting business leaders. We are therefore pleased to continue our support for the King’s Awards for Enterprise in recognising and celebrating the outstanding contributions of businesses across the UK. I commend this year’s winners on their success and look forward to seeing them build on this achievement in the years to come. It is truly inspiring to see the strides made by businesses across the UK in the last 12 months, despite tricky geopolitical and economic conditions. This year’s winners demonstrate the resilience and innovative thinking that are key to driving our country’s economic growth. Therefore, we should all be encouraged by the winners’ achievements. As outlined in our Royal Charter, the Institute of Directors is committed to fostering a climate that encourages entrepreneurship, and we are pleased to back the on-going efforts of the King’s Awards for Enterprise in promoting this.
I highly commend the winners of this year’s award and look forward to their continued success in the years to come.
Jonathan Geldart Director General of the Institute of Directors
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The King’s Awards FOR ENTERPRISE
The King’s Awards for Enterprise are considered the UK’s most prestigious business awards, designed to acknowledge and encourage outstanding achievements demonstrated by UK businesses. Instituted by Royal Warrant in 1965 and first awarded in 1966, their format has evolved to now encompass four categories: International Trade, Innovation, Sustainable Development and Promoting Opportunity (through social mobility). In the past, individuals have been recognised within the King’s Awards for Enterprise but, as of 2017, this individual award was rested. His Majesty The King makes the awards on the advice of the Prime Minister, who is assisted by an advisory committee, including representatives of Government, industry and commerce, and the trade unions. The King’s Awards for Enterprise are free to enter and you may apply for more than one award. Organisations of any size operating regularly as a business unit in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man and which meet the criteria may enter. The awards are made to businesses as a whole rather than to individuals. Applicants that are unsuccessful receive feedback about their strengths and are offered guidance about how to improve their entry for future. Presentation ceremonies are conducted at each winner’s premises, usually by the Lord-Lieutenant of the County, who is the designated representative of His Majesty The King. The awards consist of a Grant of Appointment and a commemorative crystal trophy. Successful organisations may
fly the King’s Award flag at their principal premises and are entitled to use the emblem on marketing materials – such as on packaging, advertisements, stationery and websites. This information was correct at the time of going to press. For the latest information visit www.gov.uk/kings-awards- for-enterprise THE KING’S AWARDS FOR ENTERPRISE: ELIGIBILITY To apply for the King’s Award for Enterprise your organisation must meet the following minimum criteria: Be based in the UK (including the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man); Have a good, continuous, compliance record with HM Revenue and Customs; Be a self-contained enterprise that markets its own products or services and is under its own management; Have at least two full-time UK employees or part-time equivalents; and Demonstrate strong achievement in environmental, social and governance goals. Each award has additional entry criteria, which can be found at the start of each relevant section in this magazine as well as on the website www.gov.uk/kings-awards-for-enterprise/eligibility
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Entries for The King’s Awards for Enterprise come from all corners of the UK including the outlying islands. The companies’ activities, however, are international with many businesses exporting and negotiating with countless countries around the world. King’s Awards winners 2025: a breakdown
STATISTICS
2025 Awards by category The King’s Awards for Enterprise 2025 include: 116 awards for International Trade 46 awards for Innovation 27 awards for Sustainable Development 10 awards for Promoting Opportunity Two businesses were double award winners: Delta Fire Ltd with awards for Innovation and Sustainable Development Sonardyne International Limited with awards for International Trade and Sustainable Development
The King’s Awards for Enterprise 2025 Total number of awarded businesses: 90 % of 2025 winners are SMEs The graphic shows the distribution of these 2025 Award winners across the United Kingdom. 197
SCOTLAND Winners 11
NORTHERN IRELAND Winners 2
NORTH EAST Winners 6
NORTH WEST Winners 24
YORKSHIRE & THE HUMBER Winners 11
WEST MIDLANDS Winners 12
EAST Winners 20
WALES Winners 8
EAST MIDLANDS Winners 14 16
GREATER LONDON Winners 33
SOUTH EAST Winners 37
SOUTH WEST Winners 17
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A QUEEN’S AWARD FOR ENTERPRISE The benefits of winning… A KING’S AWARD FOR ENTERPRISE
Why the King’s Awards for Enterprise really matter:
learned during the application process, new targets set and additional focus given to how the company can come back even bigger and better the following year, on a quest to become a worthy future award holder – and one of the best British companies in its field. Over the past 55 years, since the awards’launch in 1965, entrants have come from all around the UK, from city-based centres of commerce to remote locations in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands. The majority of winning companies have fewer than 250 employees, but larger companies have also clinched this most prestigious of accolades. Entering the King’s Awards: In order to enter, your company must have at least two full-time employees. There is a straightforward online entry process. How long this takes to complete will understandably vary according to the type of company and its products, and how readily available the required data is. Your chances of success – and the accolades associated with this – are high. On average, a quarter of those entering succeed in gaining a King’s Award. Of course, any award is only as good as the employees who have worked hard to achieve it, and this recognition is the ultimate morale booster. Each business that has been awarded receives a formal presentation by The King’s representative (often the county’s Lord- Lieutenant) at the company’s premises or another suitable location; some examples of these presentations can be seen in later pages of this publication.
What motivates a company to enter the King’s Awards? The answers to this question are many and varied, but one thing is certain: companies have everything to gain by entering, and nothing to lose. The King’s Awards for Enterprise are widely considered the highest accolade to be bestowed upon a UK business, celebrating the British companies that have showed outstanding achievement in trade, innovation, sustainable development and promoting opportunity through social mobility. Put simply, being honored with an award puts British companies on a pedestal; it celebrates their achievements, in a multitude of sectors, and showcases their innovations, ideas and achievements to a global audience. The King’s Awards are hugely respected, both at home and overseas, and being awarded one has been proven to give companies a winning edge over their competitors, as well as offering the ideal introduction to new customers. Additional benefits of receiving an award range from an increase in overseas trade and the far higher likelihood of staff retention, to the awards’influence in attracting highly skilled staff. Becoming an elite King’s Awards holder also provides unlimited marketing potential across digital and print platforms, both at local and national level. However, it’s not all about receiving an award. Simply entering and becoming a part of the King’s Awards journey is hugely valuable. If success doesn’t happen on the first attempt, lessons will have been
Be celebrated in print and online
In an exclusive promotional opportunity, available only to King’s Award holders, companies are offered the chance to appear in the publication you are reading now, the notable King’s Awards For Enterprise Magazine, and its accompanying website. This high quality publication is independently published, acting as a who’s who of the business world’s greatest innovators. It is
distributed to a prestigious mailing list of recipients, both in the UK and internationally. In a survey of award holders, the majority agreed that the King’s Awards for Enterprise Magazine, and its website, were rated either ‘Good’ or ‘Excellent’. With your help, the dedicated print and online team want to improve on this even further, so please email your feedback to admin@kingsawardsmagazine.com
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Presentations and Celebrations
Broadwater Mouldings Ltd
Suffolk-based manufacturers Broadwater Mouldings Ltd receive their King’s Award for Enterprise – International Trade.
L-R: Pat Betts (Chairman); Matt Herbert (MD); HM Lord-Lieutenant of Suffolk Lady Clare, Countess of Euston; Mags Humphrey (FD); Carl Reddington (Technical Director)
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The King’s Awards for Enterprise Royal Reception 2024
The reception held was once again a glittering occasion, graciously hosted by The King, at Windsor Castle and he was joined by The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Anne, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. The awarded companies were delighted to attend the Windsor Castle reception, held in their honour and to mark their achievements, and many took to social media to share their good news and excitement about meeting King Charles. During the reception, His Majesty met a diverse group of winners from across the United Kingdom, many of whom are leading in their fields of innovation, international trade, and sustainable development. Overall, there were 252 awards in 2024, with five companies receiving awards across two categories: International Trade and Innovation, a truly remarkable achievement. The largest category was for those who attained awards in International Trade, where 161 awards were given out, followed by 59 for Innovation and the smaller categories of Sustainable Development and Promoting Opportunity (through Social Mobility) had 29 and eight winners, respectively.
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HM Lord Lieutenant of West Glamorgan
Interview with Mrs Louise Fleet
Can you give us an overview of what the Lord- Lieutenant’s role is within The King’s Award scheme exactly? Lord-Lieutenants are encouraged to support various activities in their counties, including businesses, and we have a core duty to promote the UK’s public honours system, which recognises excellence across all aspects of community life. The Kings Award for Enterprise (KAE) is an important pillar of the honours system, and our role is to raise awareness and to actively promote and encourage businesses to apply. One of the nicest parts of our role is when we get to present awards to winners. It is delightful to see the wonderful reaction from recipients as they receive their Award. The King’s Award has been around since 1966. Do you remember when you personally first became aware of the scheme? I was aware of the Awards prior to becoming Lord-Lieutenant, but I only truly started to understand the gravity of what it means to be nominated and to become a recipient upon taking office.
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The Awards themselves have changed and evolved over the years. Do you think there is anything that remains integral to them, some common values perhaps? The Awards have evolved but there are several common values which have remained throughout. Each entry has always been subject to a rigorous assessment process, with high standards maintained throughout the decades. This results in the Award being one of, if not the most trusted, symbol of business excellence in the world. The KAE’s association with the Crown makes it stand out for all the right reasons and the respect it has I believe reflects the high esteem in which our monarchy is held throughout the UK and the world. And on the flip side, what would you say is the biggest difference between the Britain of 1966 and the Britain of 2025? Would you say that the landscape of the UK, as a place to work in, has changed drastically over the past 50+ years? There have been great advances in science, technology and AI which have made significant differences to the workplace and society. There have been changes to legislation, education, and training, as well as a shift in expectations from employers and employees. Sustainability and environmental policies are also two notable drivers for change since 1966, and will continue to be so in the future. In recent years, more people, particularly the younger generation, are taking the route of self-employment with a considerable number starting their own businesses. The UK has a strong and growing culture of entrepreneurship and confidence to maximise individuality, personal values, and creativity in a commercial environment. 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? The prestige and honour associated with winning the Award is reflected in the continuing high numbers of applicants each year. In my county of West Glamorgan, one company has received seven Awards over the years and is enormously proud of each one.
Excellence always triumphs with the KAE, but the bar is set very high and companies recognise increasingly not only how important they are but also how winning the Award can elevate their profile in an increasingly competitive environment. How do you think the King’s Award is regarded overseas? Do you think having an Award gives a company more clout when trading internationally? The Award’s connection to the Crown makes it quite unique. The benefits are tangible, and it gives companies the edge, particularly for those in the International Trade category, as they compete with the best companies across the world. The Award puts winners in a class of their own and being entitled to use the logo, in a world where communication is so important, instantly conveys quality and success. This year has seen King Charles III speak frankly about his ongoing battle with cancer. Do you think the continued dedication and dignity which The King has displayed throughout this difficult period is characteristic of the Awards themselves? Yes, I do. The King has been resolute in the way in which he has dealt with his cancer diagnosis; he has adapted, taken appropriate advice, and showed immense resilience in confronting and overcoming adversity. Successful businesses demonstrate these powerful characteristics too which are in turn recognised as part of the KAE assessment process.
How do you see the King’s Award developing in the future?
Since its inception, the Award has taken account of changes in society and business, such as the introduction of the Promoting Opportunity category and the refinements made to the Sustainable Development category. I think the Award will continue to be alert to the ever-changing business environment, such as the growing trend in entrepreneurship, particularly among the younger generation, which is making such a marked impact on our business community. So, do you think the scheme will still be going strong when Prince George ascends to the throne?
Absolutely! What else could take its place?
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VE Day - Commemorating 80 Years
Earlier this year, the British nation came together to mark the 80th anniversary of the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany in 1945. On May 8th 2025 – Victory in Europe Day – people from the length and breadth of the United Kingdom took time out to remember the determined resilience and honour the unmatched heroism shown by the unbelievably courageous yet entirely modest men and women who came to be known, aptly, as the ‘Greatest Generation.’ VE Day Parade in London to mark 80th anniversary of VE Day
Though wartime Prime Minister Winston Chruchill was referring to the vastly outnumbered RAF pilots who bested the Luftwaffe to win the Battle of Britain in 1940, he could well have been talking about Britons everywhere in 1945 when he famously remarked: “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.” Of course, it is important to remember that, while Great Britain and the Commonwealth did standalone against Hitler during the initial years of the Second World War, eventual victory was achieved by working together with Allies. Indeed, it is often said that Nazi Germany’s defeat on May 7th, 1945 was made possible by American manufacturing power, British intelligence and Soviet manpower. While this is not entirely accurate, it does reflect the fact that the British – who also made immense contributions in manufacturing and manpower – possessed something innate within their national character that enabled them to wage war in altogether more abstract and
creative ways than the Americans or Soviets. While the term ‘intelligence’ understandably stirs notions of espionage and deception (both of which wartime Britain excelled at), it also encompasses many other aspects, some of which are rather pertinent to King’s Award winners today. Aspects such as Innovation. Julie Spence, His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire, is a firm believer that we as a nation are often at our most innovative when we are collectively ‘up against it’: “Our will and seemingly innate determination to overcome problems and find solutions is put into overdrive during national crises, driven by severe need and threat,” she remarked, “whether that’s World War II – which many of us did not live through – or a worldwide pandemic, which we all did.” Mrs Spence illustrated her point by highlighting a few of the many innovations which were developed in Britain between 1939 and 1945: “During World War II the range of ideas that
were developed, innovated or adapted for new situations and demands from the front were wide-ranging. “From the development of the Bombe machine, by Alan Turing, which cracked the Enigma codes leading to gaining the advantage which helped bring the war to an end; to the mass production and deployment of penicillin, one of the first antibiotics, to preserve life and save soldiers in the field. “Frank Whittle designed a jet engine which went into the Gloster Meteor, the only allied jet to engage in combat operations. “And [there was] Robert Watson-Watt who used microwaves to develop radar into an effective early warning defence system; the peace time dividend being today’s microwave ovens when Percy Spencer accidentally found out that this energy could quickly cook food.” Ms Lucy Winskell, OBE, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear echoed Mrs Spence’s sentiments, adding how innovation was implemented regionally and in more abstract ways: “The engineering skills, which had long
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of Truly Great British Innovation
Alan Turing, a brilliant British mathematician and cryptographer, played a vital role in World War II. His work on the Enigma machine and the development of the "Bombe" machine significantly shortened the war and potentially saved millions of lives.
Sir Frank Whittle, a Royal Air Force (RAF) engineer, credited with inventing the jet engine. His work on the jet engine significantly impacted World War II, leading to the first flight of a British jet aircraft, the Gloster E.28/39, in May 1941.
Radar stations, like this one at Poling, West Sussex, were built by the RAF during the Second World War to detect and track enemy aircraft.
The NHS Nightingale Hospital London was a temporary hospital established at the ExCeL London convention center and was rapidly planned and constructed, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Churchill's innovative idea of Mulberry Harbours - essentially artificial ports - played a key role in the success of D-Day.
“Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few” “It is easier to take risks when the results of not doing so are really serious,” she concluded. Mrs Spence agreed, although she cautioned that there often needs to be a collective ‘will’ in order to encourage innovation to happen on a truly grand scale: “Whether war or crisis, entrepreneurial freedom to solve the gritty issues requires collaboration and cooperation between scientists, academics, innovators, businesses, the professional users and politicians to be successful,” she said. “Great Britain is brilliant at coming together in crisis to ‘win the war’ against whatever enemy.”
existed in our area, were re-purposed to focus on essential innovation and design of armaments, shipping, submarines and aircraft,” she said. “That innovation not only related to ‘things’ but to ways of working, including bringing to the fore the role of women in those industries.” Ms Winskell, was also keen to highlight how British innovation was put to good use, not just during the war, but in the difficult years that followed victory over Nazi Germany. “After six years of war, factories, businesses, schools, pubs and whole streets and therefore homes, were destroyed. The resilience of the North East came to the fore [and] innovation was necessary to quickly re-build [so] prefab housing sprang up, built by redeployed shipyard workers.” So, are we as innovative as we once were? Is innovation really within our DNA as Britons? HM Lord-Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear is in no doubt: “This innovative spirit continues into the present day, with traditional family skills in manufacturing and engineering developing and
innovating in new industries – most notably renewable energies such as wind power here in Tyne and Wear,” she noted proudly. “Many of those businesses, so strong in the war, remain so today,” she added. For 2025 King’s Award winner Sophie Costello, CEO of Costello Medical, it was the way the nation reacted to the Covid-19 pandemic that convinced her British innovation remains as strong as ever - though it often takes a significant catalyst to fully unleash it: “We tend to see the greatest innovation and entrepreneurship when we are facing our biggest challenges and when we are all pulling in exactly the same direction against a common ‘enemy’,” she explained. “The most tangible example was when we had to adapt to Covid – the whole company came together to deal with the various challenges and in a much more efficient, collaborative and innovative way than we see in other scenarios.” “We were fully united, saw that we had to adapt quickly and so pulled together to do it.
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WOMEN IN ENTERPRISE
Enterprising Women:
Recognising female founders and CEOs who are leading the way with their King’s Award for Enterprise While achieving outstanding success in business is increasingly common for female founders and CEOs, it is still so often the case that women need to overcome significant and specific challenges in order to triumph at the very highest levels. Here, five successful female business leaders who have received King’s Award recognition this year share their thoughts on ever- pertinent issues like glass ceilings, female stereotyping and industry gender bias, while offering invaluable advice and insight.
Angela Orton, MD of Structural Adhesives Ltd Based in Leicester, Structural Adhesives is a family-run manufacturing and service company that specialises in the formulation and development of adhesives such as epoxies, acrylics, and polymer-based adhesives. The company’s MD, Angela Orton, shared the challenges of working within an industry where “female-led organisations are still rare.” “The glass ceiling is real,” she noted, “but I try not to let it dominate my thinking. I focus on working around it, and with the right people and values, you eventually find a way through.” Angela – who trained as an art teacher with no business or technical background – believes that while some “blatantly biased challenges” to female-led success are institutional, adversity can often be found in less obvious places: “The biggest test we face as women often rests within ourselves,” she noted. “When you believe you can only go so far, it becomes hard to see what’s possible. That’s why mindset matters, especially for women in sectors where we’re still underrepresented.”
Emily Griffiths, CEO of Brand Hatchers Ltd Cardiff-based Brand Hatchers owns, develops, launches and grows consumer brands across a global distribution network online and in retail. Describing her company’s King’s Award (International Trade) win as a “huge moment”, CEO Emily Griffiths, believes much of her success can be attributed to pursuing a culture within business that encourages a healthy balance between work and family life. “As a female founder, I’m proud we’ve grown internationally while staying true to our values: building a flexible, supportive workplace where people can thrive at work and at home,” she says. “Success feels more possible when workplaces genuinely support family life, mental wellbeing, and flexibility — and I know I wouldn’t be able to lead the business the way I do without those same policies in place for me too.” Emily acknowledged that, while parental responsibilities and gender-based expectations can make succeeding in business more challenging, it is still absolutely achievable: “Juggling leadership and family life isn’t always easy,” she shared, “but with the right structure and culture, it’s absolutely doable - and I hope we’re proof of that.”
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‘The Glass Ceiling is Real’
MD Melissa Jones hailed her company’s King's Award (International Trade) win as “an incredible achievement.” However, the inspirational female MD pointed out that achieving success within an industry where women are frequently “not seen as equal” to men has been a real challenge. “Our industry is heavily male dominated,” she explained, “and this stretches throughout job types; from the skilled furniture makers in the workshop to the sales people selling furniture and yachts.” She continued: “I have been in situations where women are not seen as equal to the men in the room, and I think this is still the case for a lot of business sectors. I think it can be a difficult balance for women in how they position themselves and therefore how they are perceived by others - too forceful or too quiet.” “I believe it's about confidence, awareness, and adapting oneself to different people and situations,” Melissa shared. “I believe in ‘If you are in the room, be in the room - just be mindful of how loud you are in the room’.”
Sophie Costello, CEO & Director of Costello Medical Consulting Ltd
Melissa Jones, Managing Director of Neal Jones Furniture Ltd Based in Lancaster, Neal Jones Furniture is a premier furniture design company that manufactures the highest quality bespoke furniture for homes and yachts.
Costello Medical Consulting headquartered in Cambridge provides scientific support to the healthcare industry in the analysis, interpretation and communication of clinical and health economic data. Sophie Costello said receiving the King’s Award for International Trade was “a testament to the dedication and resilience of our team.” The aspirational CEO highlighted how the efforts of other trailblazing females within the pharmaceutical industry helped her to forge her own career path with confidence. “I haven't personally seen being a woman as a hindrance in my professional journey,” she said. “From early on, I was fortunate to have several inspiring female role models who advocated for me and instilled in me the confidence to pursue my ambitions.” Now a highly-respected business leader, Sophie is making great strides in ensuring the next generation of female workers receive the same degrees of encouragement and equality she enjoyed: “We have worked really hard to ensure Costello Medical is an inclusive organisation, not just for women but for everybody. “There are of course still hurdles to overcome in this area,” she acknowledged, “however, I see our success as a sign that change is happening, and I hope it can inspire other women to pursue their ambitions fearlessly.”
Lisa Cluer, Founder of Inside Out Contracts Ltd London-based Inside Out Contracts creates innovative, bespoke, design-led furniture that transforms hospitality and commercial spaces through bold design vision and close collaboration with architects, interior designers, and brands. "Winning the King’s Award for International Trade is an incredible honour,” Lisa Cluer said. “As a female founder, it means a great deal to have our journey recognised at this level.” Lisa shared Melissa’s observations of working within a male-dominated industry: “Building a company rooted in creativity, design integrity, and long-term relationships hasn’t always been easy - especially in industries where female leadership is still underrepresented.” However, the ambitious founder is optimistic about the future: “The design and manufacturing industries are evolving,” she noted, “but there is still work to do to ensure that women are encouraged to lead, speak up, and grow with confidence.” “My hope is that our story – and this Award – will inspire other women in business.”
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The Workshop Aberfeldy
A Truly Inspiring Showpiece
‘Your outstanding achievement in receiving this Award deserves an equally remarkable trophy’
This year, the honour of producing the striking-looking trophy for all 2025 King’s Award winners fell to The Workshop Aberfeldy. This inspirational Scottish social enterprise was initially set up by Gina Wallace and Paul Parmenter in June 2014 to help create personal development opportunities for disadvantaged people within the isolated rural community of Highland Perthshire. Founder Gina Wallace said The Workshop Aberfeldy was “delighted” to have been asked to make the trophies that would recognise this year’s recipients of The King's Awards for Enterprise. “This is a brilliant way to celebrate the achievements of a range of UK businesses,” she said. “Every trophy will support our work inspiring young and disadvantaged people in our community.” Elegant Design Made from wood and glass, each individual Award trophy has been meticulously handcrafted and finished by the workshop’s small team to ensure it retains a truly visceral degree of bespoke character. “The trophy is crafted from locally-sourced, FSC-certified oak,” Ms Wallace explained. “This beautiful heritage material means that every trophy is truly unique, with natural variations in the wood.” The inspiring founder revealed each trophy has also been created with a number of the King’s Awards’ core values very much in mind: “Our concept focused on the dual elements of sustainability and providing opportunity for the young and disadvantaged people we work with, reflecting the values of His Majesty King Charles.” The company decided to opt for glass over traditional crystal as it allowed for easier recycling, considering the full life-cycle of its products, with its glass supplier being a small firm based just 20 miles away. In addition, the presentation boxes are all ethically manufactured within the UK by a company focused on sustainability - and all other packaging materials are recycled, too.
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Ultimately though, the trophy encompasses all that is good about the scheme’s past present and future: “Our design recognises the heritage of the King’s Award for Enterprise but in a modern style, embodying a desire for evolution and looking to the future.” Providing Opportunity An independent charity since 2016, The Workshop Aberfeldy first gained widespread exposure when it became a national supplier of plaques for The Queen’s Green Canopy, a tree planting initiative to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee. Since its inception, the firm’s chief aim has been to provide a bridge between education and employment for young people in Highland Perthshire, an area where employment and training opportunities can be limited. The workshop has worked tirelessly to generate an authentic business that enables
young people to learn direct practical skills alongside transferable employability skills such as teamwork and time-keeping; attributes that will empower them to eventually find successful employment or further training. “We’re incredibly proud of our team, the people we work with and our community,” Ms Wallace remarked, adding: “We’re so proud of how far we’ve come.” However, the company recognises that many of their trainees face various additional barriers to employment, from mental health challenges to physical disabilities. In response, the workshop now offers targeted support which affords individuals meaningful learning and interaction opportunities. “We are,” Ms Wallace shared, “transforming people’s lives.“
The Workshop Aberfeldy Tel: 01887 829353 theworkshopaberfeldy.org
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Presentations and Celebrations
Midland Lead
Midland Lead was delighted to receive the King’s Award for Sustainable Development in 2024. Receiving this Royal Stamp of Approval has been celebrated in style with our team, customers and supplier.
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MEET THE JUDGES Here we introduce a selection of judges from across the King's Awards for Enterprise categories
JUDGE’S NAME Sarah Atkinson
Don’t just tell us what you've done, tell us what difference it has made, and to whom
CATEGORY Promoting Opportunity
AREA OF INTEREST Social Mobility & Inclusion
Sarah Atkinson is the Chief Executive of the Social Mobility Foundation, a charity working to make a practical difference to young people from disadvantaged backgrounds across the UK. Before joining the SMF, Sarah was the Executive Director for Strategy, Policy and Communications at the Charity Commission. Prior to that, she worked within the private sector, including roles with Nationwide Building Society and in public affairs consultancy. Ms Atkinson is a member of the Charity Tax Commission and has board roles at Endometriosis UK, Womankind Worldwide, and the Professional Association of Childcare and Early Years. She is also a Leadership Fellow at St George’s House, Windsor as well as a mentor on the Leaders Plus fellowship programme.
WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE TO BE A JUDGE FOR THE KING'S AWARDS? Social mobility is one of the biggest challenges facing our country at the moment and it's vital for our economy and our society that we level the playing field for people from disadvantaged backgrounds and neglected communities. We need to celebrate the achievements of UK businesses and social enterprises that have committed to social mobility, and the King's Awards do exactly that. WHY DO THE KING'S AWARDS MATTER TO BUSINESS? The King's Awards are a mark of excellence and I have certainly seen how winning has led to increased profile - both within the UK and internationally - and to increased commercial and partnership opportunities. I know winning an Award in the category of Promoting Opportunity is also a huge morale boost to employees and to the wider community they support, because it recognises the impact they have had. WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING A KA JUDGE? Reading through all the Awards submissions and seeing the range of entries from businesses of all sizes showcasing their efforts to promote opportunities for disadvantaged groups. The entries that stand out are the ones where every part of the organisation has been engaged and it's clear that the business takes real pride in the difference they are making. They bring a real smile to my face. WHAT SPARKS YOUR INTEREST ACROSS KING'S AWARD APPLICANTS THIS YEAR? Some of the applicants this year were coming back for a second time, having been unsuccessful previously. It was great to see where they they had taken on the feedback and been committed to improvement, and a real pleasure to recommend them for an Award.
WHAT’S YOUR TOP TIP FOR A COMPANY THAT IS THINKING OF APPLYING FOR A KING'S AWARD? Don’t just tell us what you've done, tell us what difference it has made, and to whom. Show us that you've been able to create real opportunities for disadvantaged people, and how employees across your business have really engaged. DESCRIBE THE BENEFITS OF BEING A KING'S AWARDS WINNER, AS YOU SEE IT The judging process is exacting and Awards are only given where a business has been able to show commitment to Promoting Opportunity over a sustained period and demonstrate it has made a difference. So winners can be confident that the Award is a real mark of excellence and marks them out to customers, employees and the wider community as a top performer.
DESCRIBE A FEW FEATURES YOU BELIEVE MAKE BRITISH BUSINESSES SUCH A GLOBAL SUCCESS
One of the hallmarks of British business is that we are truly innovative and we certainly see that across all the businesses and social enterprises that are recognised in the King's Awards. Strong bonds with the communities in which businesses are located, and investment in long-term relationships, are also, for me, hallmarks of British business. ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO ADD? The pandemic has highlighted and increased the barriers which prevent disadvantaged people achieving their potential, but it has also inspired many businesses to respond to the challenge and invest in social mobility. I’m looking forward to seeing that reflected in next year’s entries.
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MEET THE JUDGES
JUDGE’S NAME Tunde Banjoko OBE
Take the time to put as much effort into the application as you did when doing the work
CATEGORY Promoting Opportunity
AREA OF INTEREST Diversity, equity and inclusion, with a particular interest in social mobility and race equality
A passionate social justice advocate with almost 30 years’ experience running a grassroots organisation, Tunde Banjoko is the founder of multiple initiatives (including the social mobility charity Making The Leap and the UK Social Mobility Awards) which try to help make the world a fairer place. As well as providing consultancy to businesses who wish to make advances on race equity, Tunde is known as an inspiring and convincing public speaker, and is qualified as an Executive Coach. He has an MSc in Urban Regeneration from UCL and was awarded an OBE in the 2008 Queen's Birthday Honours List.
WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE TO BE A JUDGE FOR THE KING'S AWARDS? I accepted the invitation to be a judge because I believe the King's Awards for Enterprise are an exceptional vehicle to encourage businesses to excel in the area relevant to their category. WHY DO THE KING'S AWARDS MATTER TO BUSINESS? They matter because they are not easy to win. It is a rigorous process and the assessors are experienced and diligent, and that’s before it even gets to the judges, so being awarded one is an achievement. They are extremely prestigious awards, something a business can proudly display for five years. WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING A KING'S AWARD JUDGE? Just being part of such a distinguished and diverse group of individuals that form the judging panel. They are themselves experienced and successful in business and it is a privilege to listen and engage in their deliberations. WHAT SPARKS YOUR INTEREST ACROSS THE KING'S AWARD APPLICANTS THIS YEAR? How the applicants fared and did exceptional work at a time when Covid was still a major factor. How they adjusted, adapted and, in some cases, pivoted, and achieved quality outcomes; that particularly interested me.
WHAT’S YOUR TOP TIP FOR A COMPANY THAT IS THINKING OF APPLYING FOR A KING'S AWARD? Take the time to put as much effort into the application as you did when doing the work. It is a challenging process, so give it your best shot and really explain in detail what it is you are achieving. Do not leave the assessors to have to figure it out. DESCRIBE THE BENEFITS OF BEING A KING'S AWARD WINNER, AS YOU SEE IT This for me is a no-brainer. You get the opportunity to display the Award which in turn says to everyone – but most importantly current and prospective customers – that you are operating to a very high standard. DESCRIBE A FEW FEATURES YOU BELIEVE MAKE BRITISH BUSINESSES SUCH A GLOBAL SUCCESS The starting point for British businesses is a very high benchmark; there is a long history of global success that has led the way and inspires today's businesses to reach for the very top.
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JUDGE’S NAME Anne Beggs
We are a nation of problem-solvers and extra-milers with a strong can-do approach
CATEGORY International Trade
AREA OF INTEREST Exports, Foreign Direct Investment, Economic Development
Anne Beggs has 25 years’ experience of working within the economic development of Northern Ireland, assisting start-ups and scale-ups, attracting and supporting blue-chip multinationals, pioneering strategic sector initiatives, and driving collaboration with local and international partners across the public and private sectors. This impressive breadth of experience has proved invaluable in her current role as Director of Trade and Investment at Invest Northern Ireland, the region’s economic development agency. Along with attracting inward investment to the region, Ms Beggs uses her role to provide strategic direction which helps NI businesses accelerate their export growth, and maintain a supportive diaspora network.
WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE TO BE A JUDGE FOR THE KING’S AWARDS? My passion is to see businesses - and our economy as a whole - thrive through international trade. It is extremely rewarding to see exporting excellence recognised and celebrated. However, I would truly love to see more Northern Irish applicants grasp this unique opportunity to showcase their achievements. WHY DO THE KING’S AWARDS MATTER TO BUSINESS? The King's Award is an internationally recognised mark of excellence, that shines a light on the word-class performance of businesses of all sizes and from a range of industries right across the UK. The Awards represent the most prestigious endorsement of their credentials as trusted trading partners around the world and the quality of their products and services. WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING A QA JUDGE? Being a King's Awards judge offers a unique opportunity to learn of developments across a diverse range of industries, the latest innovations in go-to-market strategies, the expanding global reach of our businesses as well as the challenges they face, and how they overcome them. WHAT SPARKS YOUR INTEREST ACROSS KING’S AWARD APPLICANTS THIS YEAR? The ambition, the tenacity and the global successes of applicants is inspirational - all the more so in the context of the global economic shocks they have had to contend with in recent years. The insights we get as judges into the applicants' exporting journeys - and how they have innovated, evolved and excelled - is truly inspiring.
WHAT’S YOUR TOP TIP FOR A COMPANY THAT IS THINKING OF APPLYING FOR A KING’S AWARD? Go for It! Don't be put off by the application process; the information required already exists in your business. And remember: you're not on your own; the team at the King's Awards office are on hand, extremely experienced and are there to support you every step of the way. DESCRIBE THE BENEFITS OF BEING A KING’S AWARDS WINNER, AS YOU SEE IT Beyond well-deserved recognition and the injection of confidence for winners and their employees, the King's Award boosts the global profile of recipients, creating the potential to attract new export customers and win new international business.
DESCRIBE A FEW FEATURES YOU BELIEVE MAKE BRITISH BUSINESSES SUCH A GLOBAL SUCCESS
We are a nation of problem-solvers and extra-milers with a strong can-do approach. We are leaders in a vast range of innovative world-class products and services with a global reputation as trusted trading partners and a relentless focus on the customer. These strengths combine to make a compelling overall package.
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