London’s historic and elegant Draper’s Hall proved the perfect backdrop for our second Gala Dinner to celebrate the powerful achievements of The Queen’s Award for Enterprise winners.
Organised and hosted by The Institute of Export (IOE), award recipients enjoyed networking with like-minded peers and sharing best practice with outstanding companies whose trailblazing successes are leading the field in exporting and international trade.
IOE Vice President Sir Eric Peacock praised the award winners’ powerful achievements. Citing the words of Dr Rami Ranger, founder of multi award-winning Sun Mark, “Hidden talent is not talent,” Sir Eric reinforced the critical role that engaged and motivated staff play in a company’s overarching success.
Fellow IOE Vice President Lord Empey of Shandon presented awards to a trio of companies who have clinched the prestigious accolades on more than one occasion.
Elekta Limited, which designs and manufactures solutions for radiotherapy treatment of cancer, has won the Queen’s Award in International Trade for two consecutive years. Founded in 1996 and a subsidiary of Elekta AB of Sweden, the business has boosted overseas sales by 33 per cent since 2010.
London-based smart voucher provider Ukash Limited, which delivers white-label and Ukash-branded electronic money services, has been honoured with its third consecutive Queen’s Award in International Trade. Launched in 2001, Ukash has enjoyed overseas sales growth of 146 per cent since 2010.
Completing the hat trick of special award recipients was Sun Mark Limited, a Middlesex based marketing and distribution business in the fast moving consumer goods sector. Set up by Dr Rami Ranger MBE in 1985, the company sells to 107 countries and has posted a 35 per cent year-on-year growth in export sales for the last three years. Sun Mark has been presented with a Queen’s Award in International Trade for an unprecedented fifth consecutive year.
After dinner speaker Martin Bayfield – an international rugby player and television presenter whose colourful career has included being Robbie Coltrane’s body double as the giant Hagrid in the Harry Potter films – regaled the audience with an eclectic mix of entertaining escapades.
Towering at six feet 10 inches tall – and with 31 England caps and three Lions caps under his belt – he gave a lively insight into famous personalities he played alongside, and against, and who included Richard Webster.
Joint event sponsor George Mackintosh from TestPlant gave a short pre-dinner presentation. The international software business with operations in Europe, North America and Asia, scooped a Queen’s Award for Enterprise this year. Fellow joint sponsor Nick Bolland , Director of Solutions Consulting – EMEA at Amber Road, a global provider of Global Trade Management (GTM) software and solutions, emphasised the important role of Free Trade Agreements in International Trade.
IOE Director General Lesley Batchelor, who is on the judging panel in the International Trade category of the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise said: “It’s tremendous to see how the event has evolved since its inception in 2012. Our talented award winners are inspirational in the way they innovate, seek out new opportunities and implement best practice: their rewards and success are truly deserved.
“Myself and fellow judges are already looking forward to reviewing this year’s award submissions – and I’d encourage IOE members and companies involved in exporting and international trade to put forward a submission.”
The closing date for submissions is September 30. To download an application form visit https://queensawards.bis.gov.uk
For more information on the Institute of Export visit www.institute.org.uk or call 01733 404400.