Information about the Awards Programme
UK businesses, and other organisations, compete for The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise each year.
Winning represents outstanding achievement in the categories of:
- Innovation
- International trade
- Sustainable development
- Promoting opportunity through social mobility
So, what would your company get for winning The Queen’s Award for Enterprise this year? You may win an award by excelling on any of the four categories which means you would:
- Receive an invitation to attend a Royal reception.
- Have the award presented at your company by one of The Queen’s representatives (i.e. a Lord-Lieutenant).
- Receive authorisation to fly The Queen’s Award flag at the main office of your company.
- Be allowed to use The Queen’s Award for Enterprise emblem on your marketing materials (e.g. on company advertisements, packaging, stationery, and website).
- Receive a Grant of Appointment and a commemorative crystal bowl.
The Queen’s Award for Enterprise Winners
A special supplement in the Gazette officially announces the details of awardees in April each year. You can also view all previous supplements of all winners since 1966.
Note: The awards stay valid for five (5) years. Previous winners cite increased commercial value, greater press coverage, and worldwide recognition as some of the benefits after winning an award.
The Queen’s Award for Enterprise Eligibility
A company or organisation must meet the eligibility criteria to apply for the Queen’s Award for Enterprise. Thus, it must:
- Be based in the United Kingdom (includes the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man).
- File its Company Tax Returns with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
- Be a self-contained enterprise marketing its own products or services (under its own management).
- Have at least two (2) full-time UK employees or part-time equivalents.
- Demonstrate strong corporate social responsibility.
Note: Entrants can either be a profitable business or a non-profit organisation. There is some additional entry criteria for each of the four award categories.
International Trade Award
The extra eligibility criteria to apply for the International Trade award includes:
- Having made a minimum of £100,000 in overseas sales in the first year of the entry and showing year-on-year growth.
- Proving that the organisation has achieved outstanding growth in overseas earnings relative to the business size and sector.
- Proving steep year-on-year growth (without dips) in overseas sales over three (3) years. Substantial year-on-year growth (without dips) over six (6) years may also qualify.
Note: Already holding an award for international trade award means you can only use one (1) year’s growth from the previous application.
Innovation Award
To be eligible to apply for the Innovation award your company or organisation must also have:
- An innovation that has not been sold before.
- Had the innovation available on the market for at least two (2) years.
- Recovered all the investments made in the innovation (or show how the innovation will recover its full costs in the future).
- Shown outstanding commercial success as a result of innovation over two (2) years (or continuous commercial success over five years).
The innovation should fall into one of these particular categories
- After-sale support of goods or services
- Invention, design, or production of goods
- Marketing and distribution
- Performance of services
Sustainable Development Award
The qualification criteria to apply for the Sustainable Development award means you must show (either):
- How your outstanding sustainable development practices have helped to improve your commercial performance over two (2) years.
- How your continuous sustainable development practices have helped to improve your commercial performance over five (5) years.
Those achievements should fall into one of these particular categories:
- After-sale support of goods or services
- Invention, design, or production of goods
- Management of resources or relationships with people and other organisations
- Marketing and distribution
- Performance of services
Award for Promoting Opportunity through Social Mobility
To meet the extra qualification criteria to apply for the Promoting Opportunity award you must also:
- Have had a social mobility programme running for over two (2) years.
- Prove the programme benefits your organisation (e.g. led to business savings or improved your reputation).
Those improvements should fall into one of these particular categories:
- Giving equal support and progression opportunities to all employees.
- Offering non-graduate routes (e.g. changing recruitment practices or traineeships).
- Work experience, careers advice, or mentoring for young people.
How to Apply for The Queen’s Award for Enterprise
There are no charges to enter the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise – it is free to submit an application. You can also apply for more than one award.
Applications have closed for the 2020 awards. The 2021 awards open in May and usually close in September. You can contact the Queen’s Awards Helpline or the GOV.UK blog if you need further help.
Queen’s Awards Helpline
Mail: [email protected]
Telephone: 020 7215 6880
Monday to Friday: 9am to 5pm
More on phone call charges.
Submitting an Application in 2021
- May 2021: The application period for the 2021 awards opens.
- October 2021: Shortlisted organisations will get asked to provide verified commercial figures.
- April 2022: Notifications sent out to the winning organisations.
- April 2022: Unsuccessful organisations will receive feedback on their applications.
- 21st of April 2022: Winners receive an official announcement in the London Gazette.
- Summer 2022: Representatives from winning organisations get invited to attend a Royal reception.