Every 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