One of the most prestigious prizes is the King’s Award for Enterprise:
The annual awards recognise businesses which play a “vital role” in growing the economy to improve lives, with categories including international trade, innovation, sustainable development and promoting opportunity through social mobility.
And the South West has done very well:
Of the 197 UK businesses to win, 17 awards went to businesses in the South West of England. Of those, 11 were recognised in the international trade category, one for innovation and five for sustainable development.
Among the South West winners is Cornwall’s Lost Gardens of Heligan – the heritage-focused visitor destination including gardens, estates and farms – which was recognised in the sustainable development category. Laura Smit-Chesterfield, managing director of The Lost Gardens of Heligan, said the organisation was “delighted, honoured, and proud” to receive an award”.
Bristol-based ethical bank Triodos also scooped a sustainable development award – the fourth time it has received the accolade. “It’s a real honour to for the bank to be recognised,” said Triodos’s outgoing chief executive, Dr Bevis Watts. “At a time where it feels the world is scaling back on its sustainability commitments, Triodos continues to be a global pioneer in ethical banking and using the power of finance to support projects that benefit people and the planet.”
Other winners included Tomcat, a Gloucestershire-based manufacturer of bespoke inclusive tricycles (international trade); Devon personalised gift company Letterfest (international trade); and Dorset’s Naked Sprout (now Naked Paper), an eco-friendly toilet roll business (sustainable development).
“There are some exceptional businesses from the South West recognised in this year’s King’s Awards for Enterprise,” said Gareth Thomas, minister for services, small businesses and exports. “I wish the winners every success as they continue to grow, innovate and prosper, and commend the invaluable contributions they have already made to communities at home in the South West and abroad, helping to boost the UK economy.”
The prize has been going since the 1960s, but the current “King’s Awards” is relatively recent, with King Charles taking up the batton:
And two of those were for farming enterprises:
The Kings Award for Enterprise: South west farming firms | South West Farmer
Congratulations all!
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