The winners of the awards, which recognise companies that have excelled in innovation, international trade, promoting opportunity, and sustainable development, were announced today (21 April) and included 232 organisations based in the UK, from across a range of sectors.
Among the industry names honoured this year was The Wentworth Wooden Jigsaw Company, based in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, which won a Queen’s Award for international trade.
The business, which was founded in 1991 by Kevin Wentworth Preston, saw jigsaw sales soar during the pandemic. Its precision laser-cut puzzles feature the firm’s trademark ‘whimsy’ pieces – special shapes such as people and animals – that match the theme of the puzzle.
The company tweeted this morning: “We are delighted to announce that we have been honoured with The Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade.
“We’re grateful to all of our Wentworth family for their hard work in helping us achieve this prestigious business award.”
Other companies recognised in the same category included Beccles-based Bradman Lake, which manufactures packaging machines that provide turnkey systems for the food and pharmaceutical industries, and London-based Wrapology International, which designs and manufactures custom packaging for brands.
World of Books Group, based in Goring-by-Sea, West Sussex, also won the international trade award, as well as the sustainable development award.
The online book retailer sells over 12 million used books a year to customers in over 175 countries, and 4,400 UK charity shops are supported through the purchase of surplus stock by the business. It also donates books to literacy programmes and recycles books and media that cannot be reused.
Ospringe, Kent-based Eako Ltd, which trades as Elvis & Kresse, also won the sustainable development award. The lifestyle accessories producer rescues and transforms fire-hoses and donates 50% of its profits to firefighters.
Its Print Room Wallet, which is handmade by combining vintage printing blankets and genuine decommissioned fire-hoses, was featured in the recent Printweek Christmas gift guide.
Innovation award winners included Telford-based i2r Packaging Solutions, which manufactures a range of aluminium foil wrinklewall and smoothwall containers used throughout the food industry. One of its new innovations is a baking product range which includes tulip muffin wraps and greaseproof paper sheets.
Coventry-based Staeger Clear Packaging, which designs and manufactures high-quality clear plastic packaging that uses British recycled plastic, was the other packaging industry name recognised in the category.
The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise were created following the recommendation of a committee chaired by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in 1965. The first awards, originally known as The Queen’s Awards to Industry, were made the following year.
Winners’ awards are valid for five years. Winners are permitted to fly The Queen’s Awards flag at their main office and use the emblem on their marketing materials. They are also given a Grant of Appointment – an official certificate – and a commemorative crystal trophy.
Her Majesty The Queen’s Lord Lieutenants will be presenting the awards to businesses locally throughout the year.
Applications for the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise 2023 open on 1 May 2022.
