The King's Awards for Enterprise

business woman in a workshopEvery year winners of the King’s Awards for Enterprise (previously known as the Queen's Award for Enterprise) are officially announced in a special Gazette supplement. 

What are The King’s Awards for Enterprise?

The King’s Awards for Enterprise are the most prestigious awards for UK business. Officially announced in a special Gazette supplement every year, the Awards are designed to recognise and encourage outstanding achievements in the fields of:

  • innovation
  • international trade
  • sustainable development
  • promoting opportunity (through social mobility)

Winners of the award are:

  • invited to a Royal reception
  • presented with the award at your company by one of The King’s representatives, a Lord-Lieutenant
  • able to fly The King’s Awards flag at your main office, and use the emblem on your marketing materials (for example, on your packaging, advertisements, stationery and website)
  • given a Grant of Appointment (an official certificate) and a commemorative crystal trophy

The awards are valid for 5 years.

When were The King’s Awards for Enterprise first introduced?

The King’s Awards scheme was instituted by Royal Warrant in 1965 with the first Awards made in 1966 (Gazette issue 43953) under the scheme’s original title, The Queen's Award to Industry.

In 1975 the scheme became the Queen's Awards for Export and Technology, with Environmental Achievement added in 1992. However, in 1999 the scheme was again renamed The Queen's Awards for Enterprise with ‘international trade’, ‘innovation’ and ‘sustainable development’ as the categories. In 2017, a fourth category was introduced, ‘promoting opportunity (through social mobility)’. In 2023, it was announced that the awards would be renamed The King's Awards for Enterprise following the accession of King Charles III.

Since 2005, individuals have also been recognised with the Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion. As of 2017, this individual award has been rested.

See the 2024 winners in a special Gazette supplement:

Gazette issue 64386

How do you nominate a business for The King’s Awards for Enterprise?

The King's Awards for Enterprise are a self-nominating process and are free to enter.

Applications for the 2025 Awards are now open and will be until 1pm on 12 September 2024.

You can visit the website to apply and to find a full list of the eligibility criteria.

Previous King's Awards for Enterprise winners

Year

List

2024

Gazette issue 64386
2023

Gazette issue 64032

Previous Queen's Awards for Enterprise winners

Year

List

2022

Gazette issue 63674

2021

Gazette issue 63334

2020

Gazette issue 62978

2019

Gazette issue 62621 

2018

Gazette issue 62263

2017

Gazette issue 61907

2016

Gazette issue 61559

2015

Gazette issue 61204

2014

Gazette issue 60844

2013

Gazette issue 60481

2012

Gazette issue 60123

2011

Gazette issue 59764

2010

Gazette issue 59397

2009

Gazette issue 59039

2008

Gazette issue 58673

2007

Gazette issue 58307

2006

Gazette issue 57962

2005

Gazette issue 57618

2004

Gazette issue 57618

2003

Gazette issue 56912

2002

Gazette issue 56544

2001

Gazette issue 56182

2000

Gazette issue 55828

1999

Gazette issue 55463

1998

Gazette issue 55103

1997

Gazette issue 54742

1996

Gazette issue 54376

1995

Gazette issue 54014 

1994

Gazette issue 53649

1993

Gazette issue 53282

1992

Gazette issue 52898

1991

Gazette issue 52509

1990

Gazette issue 52116

1989

Gazette issue 51710

1988

Gazette issue 51312

1987

Gazette issue 50896

1986

Gazette issue 50493

1985

Gazette issue 50098

1984

Gazette issue 49713

1983

Gazette issue 49326

1982

Gazette issue 48957

1981

Gazette issue 48588

1980

Gazette issue 48161

1979

Gazette issue 47822

1978

Gazette issue 47518

1977

Gazette issue 47200

1976

Gazette issue 46879

1975

Gazette issue 46548

1974

Gazette issue 46264

1973

Gazette issue 45951

1972

Gazette issue 45649

1971

Gazette issue 45342

1970

Gazette issue 45080

1969

Gazette issue 44828

1968

Gazette issue 44568

1967

Gazette issue 44294

1966

Gazette issue 43953

Changes to the awards

  • 2023: Renamed The King's Award for Enterprise following the accession of King Charles III
  • 2017: The Queen's Award for Promoting Opportunity is announced and The Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion is rested, Gazette issue 62005
  • 2005: The Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion, an individual award, is announced, Gazette issue 57597
  • 2001: Environmental Achievement category changes to Sustainable Development, Gazette issue 56176
  • 2000: Renamed the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise: International Trade, Innovation and Environmental Achievement, Gazette issue 56066
  • 1992: Renamed the Queen’s Awards for Export, Technological and Environmental Achievement, Gazette issue 52936
  • 1976: Renamed the Queen’s Awards for Export and Technology, Gazette issue 46875
  • 1971: Amendments to original rules and ordinances of 1965, Gazette issue 45341
  • 1966: The Queen's Award to Industry, Royal Warrant, Gazette issue 43932

See also

King's Awards for Enterprise press books since 2012 (GOV.UK)

About the awards (GOV.UK)

(Please note that for the 2000 supplement, awardees P&M Products Ltd, Pascall Electronics Limited, Pfizer Limited, Polycarb Ltd, Psion Dacom Plc and John Ross Jr (Aberdeen) Ltd may not be viewable within the scanned version.)

Image

Getty Images

Publication updated

17 May 2024