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Queen's Awards 2004 calls for entries

Outstanding businesses from all sectors invited to apply

Entries are now being invited for the 2004 Queen's Awards for Enterprise — the UK's highest honours for business success. The deadline for applications is midnight on 31 October 2003.

The Queen's Awards are open to any UK-based company employing two or more people, which can demonstrate outstanding success in its field. Awards are made in three broad categories: International Trade, Innovation and
Sustainable Development.

The main benefits of winning a Queen's Award are the publicity and prestige surrounding the scheme, boosts to staff morale and the right to use the coveted Queen's Award Emblem in all marketing for five years. Winners are
announced annually on 21 April, the Queen's personal birthday. Following the announcement, winners are presented with a crystal bowl at their own premises by a representative of the Queen, and invited to a special
reception at Buckingham Palace.

Recent research amongst past winners of The Queen's Awards has confirmed the powerful impact winning can have on a company's fortunes. It found that 80% of winners had experienced significant boosts to staff morale, 65% had benefited from positive press coverage, 55% had gained from increased recognition in the UK and 28% felt their Award had given them an edge over their competitors.

Unlike other business awards schemes, there is no set number of Queen's Awards made each year, nor is there an entry fee. This year, 123 Awards were announced (on 21 April 2003), with winners drawn from a diverse range
of businesses covering computer chips to oven chips; sports cars to aeroplanes; hotels to hospitals; lawyers to architects; enzymes to opto-electronics; banks to bookmakers and more.

Further information

To apply for a 2004 Queen's Award, businesses should either phone 0870 513 4486 or visit the Queen's Awards Office website:  www.queensawards.org.uk to download an application form.