They’re the most prestigious awards for UK businesses.

The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise.

Designed to recognise and promote business excellence and drive growth.

An opportunity for your business, or organisation, to take its rightful place in the spotlight.

And with the added bonus of receiving royal recognition in a historic year – 2022 – when the nation will celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen.

Yet despite all the prestige, and honour, associated with the Queen’s Awards, surprisingly few Dorset companies have been among the winners.

In fact, just one this year.

Especially surprising because if any county in the UK can lay claim to innovative, successful and forward-thinking enterprises, then it’s Dorset.

Which is why Angus Campbell, Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for Dorset, has asked three of his Deputy Lieutenants – Felicity Irwin, Russell Lucas-Rowe and James Weld – to assist in encouraging entries for the 2022 awards.

Felicity said: “We have an enormous wealth of talent in Dorset but it feels like businesses are hiding their lights under a bushel.

“This really is a win-win.

“There are huge marketing and PR opportunities to be gained from winning an award in addition to the recognition success can bring to the company and its staff.”

The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise recognise outstanding achievement by UK businesses in four categories:

• Innovation
• International Trade
• Sustainable Development
• Promoting Opportunity Through Social Mobility

To apply, an organisation must:

• Be based in the UK
• File its company tax returns 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
• Demonstrate strong corporate social responsibility

The organisation can be a business or non-profit.

Each of the award categories has additional entry criteria.

It costs nothing to enter and you can apply for more than one award.

Closing date for the 2022 awards is midday on September 8, 2021.

The winners will be announced on The Queen’s birthday, April 21, 2022.

And what can you expect if your company or organisation is successful?

• An invitation to a Royal reception.
• Presentation of the award at your premises by the Lord-Lieutenant who is The Queen’s representative in the county.
• Permission to fly the Queen’s Award flag at your main office and use the emblem on marketing materials such as packaging, advertisements, stationery and website.
• A Grant of Appointment (an official certificate) and a commemorative crystal trophy.

The awards are valid for five years.

Previous winners have reported benefiting from worldwide recognition, increased commercial value, greater press coverage and a boost to staff morale.

Since the Award’s inception in 1965 more than 7,000 companies have won a Queen’s Award.

This year a total of 205 awards were announced.

The sole Dorset winner was Ferndown-based imageHOLDERS, a fast-growing company which has exported its products to more than 70 countries in recent years.

It received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the International Trade category.

Adrian Thompson, Founder and CEO, pictured with his team, told Dorset Biz News in April: “I feel very proud of the business and our collaborative and highly professional team.”

Felicity Irwin, who was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant in 1995, said: “I would urge companies to enter the awards.

“Of course, there are forms to fill when applying so if, for any reason, you choose not to enter this year then please make it next year.

“It would be lovely to see more Dorset companies recognised in these prestigious and highly prized awards.”

• For more details, and to apply, please go to: gov.uk/queens-awards-for-enterprise