Consulting firms lauded by Queen's Awards for Enterprise
Five consulting firms were among the winners of the annual Queen’s Awards for Enterprise. Boyd Consultants, DCA Design International, Mason Advisory, Specialist Marine Consultants and Grant Thornton will now be invited to attend a ceremony at Buckingham Palace in the summer, in order to collect their Awards.
Announced annually on Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday, the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise have been operating in various forms since 1966. The Queen hands the prizes to top businesses, on the advice of the incumbent Prime Minister, who is assisted by an Advisory Committee that includes representatives of Government, industry and commerce, and the trade unions.
In the 52 years since their launch, the awards have developed into the current format comprising four categories of award. These are Innovation; International Trade; Sustainable Development and Promoting Opportunity. While the awards have been designated, the gongs themselves are still to be distributed, with an official event being held at Buckingham Palace in June to dish them out. Five consulting firms will be among the exalted few at this year’s event.
Cheshire and Cambridgeshire-based Boyd Consultants will be one of those firms, as the winner of a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade. The development of medicines for patient benefit is a global business, and Boyds works internationally to support such work. Established 13 years ago, the firm’s 10 members of staff have seen international sales grow by two thirds over the past three years, more than doubling profits in the process.
Highlighting what he believes is behind his firm’s accolade, founder and CEO Professor Alan Boyd said, “It is a tremendous honour for Boyds to be recognised with the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise… Around two thirds of our revenue now comes from businesses based outside the UK, and we anticipate this trend will continue.”
Following up the firm’s win in 2012, meanwhile, DCA Design International were the recipients of a second Queen's Award for Enterprise in International Trade. The firm, founded in 1960, is one of the world’s leading product design and development consultancies, and operates from headquarters based in Warwick.
Robert Woolston, DCA's Managing Director, commented, “We are delighted that the growth and performance of our international exports over a number of years, has been recognised in such a special way. The Board of Directors would again like to thank all of our staff and clients for making this possible."
Independent IT consultancy Mason Advisory was also recognised with a gong for International Trade. The recommendation of the firm by the Prime Minister to the Queen was based on the Manchester-based company’s successful business projects overseas, advising across the public and private sector. This included projects all over the world, including the USA, Switzerland, Norway, Ireland, Jamaica, Qatar, and Mauritius.
Steve Watmough, Mason Advisory CEO, says, “This is such an incredible honour for us and a huge privilege to be recognised for our international trade. We know there are many important businesses across the UK carrying out impressive work around the globe so to be awarded this accolade really puts us on the map and will hopefully propel us towards the next stage of our international growth.”
Specialist Marine Consultants, a small family owned business headquartered in Hunmanby, North Yorkshire, was also marked out for a prize in International Trade. Over the past eleven years, the firm has expanded from a one-man consultancy to a company consisting of over one hundred members of personnel, increasing its share and range of specialist services in the renewable energy sector in the process, having diversified into a number of services from the Oil and Gas exploration sector.
Ian Coates, Managing Director, said, “This is the proudest moment in the history of SMC so far. I must personally thank all SMC staff past and present for their outstanding contribution and for the professional manner in which they have conducted and continue to conduct themselves, and their work scopes and operations with the highest adherence to safety and quality.”
In the Promoting Opportunity category, Grant Thornton was the only consultancy to be commended for something other than international trade. Instead, the firm was recognised for its efforts to boost social mobility in the workplace. The firm introduced a number of measures in 2013 with the aim of widening access and inclusion in its UK operations, as well as being a founding signatory of Access Accountancy, a movement which aims to broaden access to the profession.
Commenting on Grant Thornton’s recognition, CEO Sacha Romanovitch, said, “Creating a future-proof, diverse and inclusive workforce is good for business and is an ongoing priority for the future of a vibrant economy where people, business and communities can thrive.”
Related: Source Global Research receives Queen's Award for Enterprise.
