A prestigious new Queens Award has been launched for individuals contributing to the promotion of enterprise.
The award will celebrate both local and national activities ranging from the development of business partnerships to promoting entrepreneurship as a career option.
Nominations are encouraged from entrepreneurs within the small businesses sector who feel they have helped to encourage a UK enterprise culture.
Around ten awards will be granted each year, with a lifetime achievement award going to the individual who has contributed consistently to the promotion of enterprise over a long period of time.
Patricia Hewitt, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, said, “The well-established Queen’s Awards for Enterprise clearly demonstrates the extraordinary talent that exists amongst the U.K’s business community. These reward team efforts and set a level for other firms to aspire to.
“Matching them, the new Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion will celebrate the enterprising spirit and dynamism of individuals that exemplify the best of UK innovation and creativity.”
The award represents a form of recognition by the Government to a recent survey by the Small Business Service, which revealed that 99.8 per cent of the UK’s economy is provided by small to medium sized businesses.
Nominations can be made until 0ctober 31 and winners will be announced on April 23.
The Queen will make the awards on the advice of the Prime Minister who will be assisted by the Enterprise Promotion Assessment Committee.
Chancellor Gordon Brown said, “We should celebrate the entrepreneur, opening up enterprise to everyone who works hard and has the talent, and this new award for enterprise will reinforce the whole country’s support for the best of British business.
“I want entrepreneurs to be seen as role models for young people and I want Britain to celebrate business success the way we rightly celebrate other fields like sport or film.”
Meanwhile, outstanding small businesses are being urged to apply for a Queens Award for Enterprise for their own business before the deadline of midnight on 31 October. Businesses of two or more people can enter in any of these three categories - International Trade, Innovation or Sustainable Development.
This year, nearly half of the organisations that have won a Queen's Award for Enterprise have less than 50 employees. Previous award winners have experienced a boost in office morale as well as more effective marketing and publicity with many boosting sales by 35 per cent as a result.
For more information visit www.queensawards.org.uk
