The Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion is one of the

Queen's Awards for Enterprise The King's Awards for Enterprise, previously known as The Queen's Award for Enterprise, is an awards programme for British businesses and other organizations who excel at international trade, innovation, sustainable development or promoting oppor ...

, and is awarded annually to people who play an outstanding role in promoting the growth of business enterprise and/or entrepreneurial skills in other people. It is bestowed by the

Queen Queen most commonly refers to: * Queen regnant, a female monarch of a kingdom * Queen consort, the wife of a reigning king * Queen (band), a British rock band Queen or QUEEN may also refer to: Monarchy * Queen dowager, the widow of a king * Q ...

on the advice of the

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom The prime minister of the United Kingdom is the head of government of the United Kingdom. The prime minister Advice (constitutional law), advises the Monarchy of the United Kingdom, sovereign on the exercise of much of the Royal prerogative ...

. Recipients receive an engraved crystal glass commemorative item, a Grant of Appointment and are invited to a reception at

Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace () is a royal official residence, residence in London, and the administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is often at the centre of state occasions and r ...

. Sometimes the award is presented by another member of the British Royal Family, and sometimes at another location.

For example, people who: * give up their time – and sometimes provide financial support – to help potential entrepreneurs in education or in the early phases of business development * work in education, training or youth work and help provide others with enterprise skills * are involved in social enterprise and either achieve business outcomes or help others develop business skills

Entry is by nomination only and people cannot nominate themselves. Thirteen awardees have been from the National Enterprise Network.

History

The award was initiated in 2004, with the first awards being made in 2005. The award is for achievement in enterprise promotion, between five and ten awards have been made annually since 2005, in addition to one lifetime achievement award each year and sometimes an honorary award (three such awards have been made as of 2015).

2005

Lifetime Achievement

* Kenneth O'Neill, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development, School of Marketing, Entrepreneurship and Strategy,

University of Ulster Ulster University (; Ulster Scots: or ), legally the University of Ulster, is a multi-campus public research university located in Northern Ireland. It is often referred to informally and unofficially as Ulster, or by the abbreviation UU. It i ...

, Northern Ireland

Achievement in Enterprise Promotion

Sikander Badat Sikandar (sometimes Sikander) is Persian for "defender" or "warrior". When Alexander of Macedonia conquered Persia, the Persians called him Sikandar lidi, a variant of ''Iskandar.'' People Rulers * Alexander the Great (BC 356–323), also known ...

, head of policy, Ethnic Minority Business Development, Chamber Link, Bolton * Alan Barrell, FRSA, chairman of several companies, Cambridge * Dinah Bennett, FRSA, OBE, programme director, Policy and International Development Centre for Executive Education and Enterprise,

Durham Business School Durham University Business School (DUBS) is the business school of Durham University, a collegiate university, collegiate Public university, public research university in Durham, England. The school holds triple accreditation from AACSB, Associa ...

, Durham * Stephen Dumbell, chief executive officer, Knowsley Development Trust, Merseyside * Diane Gowland, director, Centre for Innovation and Partnerships, Newham College, London * Gary McEwan, managing director, The Maitland Partnership Ltd, Hillington, Renfrewshire * Brian Murray, chief executive, Workspace, The Business Centre, Draperstown, Magherafelt, Northern Ireland *

Joy Nichols Joy Eileen Nichols (17 February 1925 – 23 June 1992) was an Australian-British comedian, actress and singer who also worked in the United States. She was best known as one of the stars of '' Take It From Here'' on BBC Radio. Biography Nichols ...

, chief executive, Nichols Agency Ltd, London * Edward Prosser, inventor/innovator, Cardiff * Charles Skene, OBE, founder and trustee, Skene Young Entrepreneurs Award, Aberdeen

2006

Lifetime Achievement

* David Rowe, director of the University of Warwick Science Park Ltd, West Midlands.

Achievement in Enterprise Promotion

John Anderson John Anderson may refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * John Anderson (jazz trumpeter) (1921–1974), American musician * Jon Anderson (John Roy Anderson, born 1944), lead singer of the British band Yes * John Anderson (producer) (1948–2024 ...

CBE, non-executive chairman of the North-East Business and Innovation Centre, Sunderland * Derek Browne, chief executive of Entrepreneurs in Action, London. * Janet Brumby, development manager of

Young Enterprise Young Enterprise is a British charity that specialise in providing enterprise education and financial education to young people. Young Enterprise works directly with young people, teachers, volunteers, and influencers with aim of building a suc ...

, Hull and East Riding. *

Walter Herriot Walter Herriot OBE, was the managing director of St John's Innovation Centre, Cambridge. In 2006, he was awarded the Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion The Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion is one of the Queen's Awards for Enterprise ...

OBE, managing director of

St John's Innovation Centre St John's Innovation Centre (SJIC) is a business incubator in Cambridge, England. It houses a concentration of science and technology related businesses. History The idea for the innovation centre was first proposed by Dr Chris Johnson, who w ...

, Cambridge * Jason Holt, director, R Holt & Co, London. * Bryan Keating, managing partner of the CIP partnership, visiting professor at the

and chairman of the advisory board of the Northern Ireland Centre for Entrepreneurship, Belfast. * David Kirby, professor of entrepreneurship,

University of Surrey The University of Surrey is a public research university in Guildford, Surrey, England. The university received its Royal Charter, royal charter in 1966, along with a Plate glass university, number of other institutions following recommendations ...

, Guildford. * Amanda Parris, business centre manager, Rotherham Investment and Development Office, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, South Yorkshire. * Peter Westgarth, chief executive, The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme and former chief executive of Young Enterprise UK, Oxford.

Honorary

* Douglas Richard, director and co-founder, Library House, Cambridge.

2007

Lifetime Achievement

* Joan Richards MBE, youth business advisor, Business Connect, Neath, Port Talbot, Wales

Achievement in Enterprise Promotion

* Pauline Barnett, deputy chief executive, East London Small Business Centre Ltd., London. * Nigel Brown, chairman, NW Brown Group Limited, Cambridge. * Jane Delfino, innovations director,

United Learning Trust United Learning is a group of state-funded schools and fee-paying private schools operating in England. United Learning is the trading name for United Church Schools Trust (UCST) and United Learning Trust (ULT). It is one of the largest 10 char ...

, Manchester. * Anne Duncan, chief executive, Yellowfin Ltd., Southampton. * Geoffrey Ford, chairman, Ford Component Manufacturing Limited, South Shields, Tyne and Wear. * Charles Hadcock, owner and director, The Watermark, Preston, Lancashire. * Janet Scicluna, proprietor, Janet Scicluna associates, Cardiff. * David Secher, chief executive,

N8 Group The N8 Research Partnership is a partnership created in 2006 of the eight most research-intensive universities in Northern England – Durham, Lancaster, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield and York. The N8 Research Partnersh ...

, Sheffield. * Caroline Theobald, managing director, Bridge Club Ltd., Newcastle upon Tyne.

2008

Lifetime Achievement

* John Eversley MBE, director and vice-chair, Tyne and Wear Enterprise Trust Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne.

Achievement in Enterprise Promotion

Zulfiqar Ali Zulfiqar Ali may refer to: * Zulfiqar Ali (Kenyan cricketer) (born 1947), Kenyan cricketer * Zulfiqar Ali (Pakistani cricketer) (1969–2003), Pakistani cricketer * Zulfiqar Ali (mayor) (born 1965), English politician {{hndis, Ali, Zulfiqar ...

, chairman,

Reach BCS Reach, REACH, or The Reach may refer to: Companies and organizations * Reach plc, formerly Trinity Mirror, large British newspaper, magazine, and digital publisher * Reach Canada, an NGO in Canada * Reach Limited, an Asia Pacific cable netw ...

, Rochdale, Lancashire. * Sally Arkley, managing director, Womens Business Development Agency, Coventry, Warwickshire. * Paul Barry-Walsh, chairman, Fredericks Foundation, Lightwater, Surrey and chairman, Netstore plc, Reading, Berkshire. *

Brian Dunsby Brian Leslie Dunsby, (22 January 1940 – 4 January 2025) was a British businessman. He was the principal of Perlex Associates, Harrogate, North Yorkshire. He was the chief executive of the non-profit Yorkshire Business Market LTD. He founde ...

, principal, Perlex associates, Harrogate, North Yorkshire. * John Jennens, business counsellor, Oxfordshire Business Enterprise, Banbury, Oxfordshire. * Michael Leithrow, executive director and general manager,

Northern Pinetree Trust Northern may refer to the following: Geography * North, a point in direction * Northern Europe, the northern part or region of Europe * Northern Highland, a region of Wisconsin, United States * Northern Province, Sri Lanka * Northern Range, a ra ...

, Birtley, County Durham. * John May, chief executive, Career Academies UK, London. * Pamela Neal, mentor and workshop facilitator, CODA Business Management Ltd, Newport, Wales. * Janette Pallas, business incubation and enterprise manager,

De Montfort University De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) is a public university in the city of Leicester, England. It was established in accordance with the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, Further and Higher Education Act in 1992 as a degree awarding body ...

, Leicester.

Honorary

* Nicholas O'Shiel, director and chief executive,

Omagh Enterprise Company Ltd Omagh (; from , meaning 'the virgin plain') is the county town of County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is situated where the rivers Drumragh and Camowen meet to form the Strule. Northern Ireland's capital city, Belfast, is 68 miles (109.5&n ...

, Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.

2009

Lifetime Achievement

* (Arthur) Allan Gibb OBE, former director, Small Business Centre,

Durham University Durham University (legally the University of Durham) is a collegiate university, collegiate public university, public research university in Durham, England, founded by an Act of Parliament (UK), Act of Parliament in 1832 and incorporated by r ...

, Durham

Achievement in Enterprise Promotion

* Karen Arnold, Chief Executive, The Enterprise and Skills Company Limited, Wimborne, Dorset. * Charles John Cracknell, Youth Enterprise and Microbusiness Manager,

Hull City Council Hull City Council, or Kingston upon Hull City Council, is the local authority for the city of Kingston upon Hull (generally known as Hull) in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. Hull has had a council since 1299, whic ...

, East Riding of Yorkshire. * Jacqueline Frost, enterprise projects manager, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, South Yorkshire. * David Irwin, partner, Irwin Grayson associates, Stocksfield, Northumberland. * James Murray Wells, founder and Executive Chairman of Prescription Eyewear Limited (trading as Glasses Direct), London. * Beverley Pold, Business Development and Policy Manager, Chwarae Teg/Fair Play, Cardiff. * John Thompson, Roger M Bale Professor of Entrepreneurship, University of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. *

Angela Wright Angela Wright is the former chief executive and founder of Solent Skill Quest Limited, Southampton, Hampshire. She was chair of the National Enterprise Business Partnership (NEBPN), later the Institute for Education Business Excellence (IEBE). I ...

, chief executive, Solent Skill Quest Limited, Southampton, Hampshire. * Charlotte Young, Chair of Board of Trustees,

School for Social Entrepreneurs A school is the educational institution (and, in the case of in-person learning, the building) designed to provide learning environments for the teaching of students, usually under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of fo ...

, London.

Honorary

* Charles Gerard Ford, director and chief executive of Advantage Northern Ireland Limited, Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland.

2010

In 2009 there were postal delays due to a strike, and the nomination period for 2010 was extended to 4 November 2009.

Lifetime Achievement

* (George) Douglas Scott, chief executive officer, TEDCO Ltd, Jarrow, Tyne and Wear.

Achievement in Enterprise Promotion

* Timothy Allan, former chair, Young Enterprise Scotland, Glasgow, Scotland. * Nicholas Bowen, head teacher, St Benet Biscop Catholic High School, Bedlington, Northumberland. *

Paul Davidson Paul Davidson may refer to: * Paul Davidson (author) (born 1971), American author and blogger * Paul Davidson (businessman) (born 1947), English CEO * Paul "The Plumber" Davidson (born 1955), British businessman * Paul Davidson (economist) (born ...

, chief executive, Bolton Business Ventures, Bolton, Lancashire. * Simon Denny, associate dean, Research and Knowledge Transfer, Northampton Business School, University of Northampton, Northamptonshire. * Beverly Hurley, chief executive, YTKO, Cambridge. * Murdoch MacLeod, director, MacLeod Construction Limited,

Lochgilphead Lochgilphead (; ) is a town and former burgh in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, with a population of around 2,300 people. It is the administrative centre of Argyll and Bute Council. The village lies at the end of Loch Gilp (a branch of Loch Fyne) an ...

, Argyll, Scotland. *

Maureen Milgram Forrest Maureen Milgram Forrest (1 February 1938 - 1 March 2013) was a British co-founder of LeicesterHERday Trust and the original project director for the BRIT School in Croydon, London. She was also known as Lillian Maureen Bernice Forrest. She was ...

, founder chair and current chair, LeicesterHerDay Trust, Leicester. *

Kenneth Nelson Kenneth Nelson (March 24, 1930 – October 7, 1993) was an American actor. Born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Nelson appeared in several television series in the late 1940s, ''Captain Video and His Video Rangers'' and ''The Aldrich Family'' am ...

, chief executive officer and company secretary, Larne Enterprise Development Company Ltd (LEDCOM), Larne, Northern Ireland. * Frank Nicholson, former managing director,

Vaux Breweries Vaux Brewery was a major brewer and hotel owner based in Sunderland, England. The company was listed on the London Stock Exchange. It was taken over by Whitbread in 2000. History The company was founded in 1806 by Cuthbert Vaux (1779–1850), p ...

, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear. *

Ederyn Williams Ederyn Williams (born 21 September 1946) is a British academic, commentator and writer whose work focuses on social presence theory and technology transfer. Early life and education Williams is the son of the Welsh academic and television cri ...

, director, Warwick Ventures, University of Warwick, Coventry, Warwickshire.

2011

Source:

Lifetime Achievement

* Ronald Batty former chief executive, CDC Enterprise Agency, Durham, County Durham

Achievement in Enterprise Promotion

* Keith Bates, development consultant of Keith Bates Development Services, Bristol * David Benstead director of

Diodes Zetex Limited A diode is a two-terminal electronic component that conducts electric current primarily in one direction (asymmetric conductance). It has low (ideally zero) resistance in one direction and high (ideally infinite) resistance in the other. A ...

, Oldham, Greater Manchester * Robert Blackburn director of the Small Business Research Centre,

Kingston University Kingston University London is a Public university, public research university located within the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, in South London, South West London, England. Its roots go back to the Kingston Technical Institute, founded ...

, Kingston upon Thames, London *

Alison Brown Alison Brown (born August 7, 1962) is an American banjo player, guitarist, composer, and producer. She has won and has been nominated for several Grammy awards and is often compared to another banjo prodigy, Béla Fleck, for her unique style of ...

, head of technology, director of specialism, Catcote School Business and Enterprise College, Hartlepool, County Durham *

Geoffrey Davies Geoffrey Walsh Davies (15 December 1938 – 13 July 2023) was an English actor. Early life and career The son of an accountant, Davies was educated at grammar school and studied at art college to be a commercial artist before becoming an acto ...

OBE, managing director Alamo Group Europe Ltd., vice president, Alamo Inc (US), Worcestershire *

Paul Davies Paul Charles William Davies (born 22 April 1946) is an English physicist, writer and broadcaster, a professor in Arizona State University and director of BEYOND: Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science. He is affiliated with the Institute ...

, voluntary chief executive and business coach, Clowne Enterprise, Clowne, Derbyshire *

Victoria Lennox Victoria most commonly refers to: * Queen Victoria (1819–1901), Queen of the United Kingdom and Empress of India * Victoria (state), a state of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, a provincial capital * Victoria, Seychelles, the capi ...

, founder and chair of trustees, National Consortium of University Entrepreneurs, London * Susan Marlow, professor of entrepreneurship,

, Leicester * Alexander Pratt founder of Serious Brands Ltd., Bierton, Buckinghamshire * Khalid Saifullah director of Star Tissue UK Ltd., Blackburn, Lancashire

2012

Lifetime Achievement

* Carmel Gahan, director of Ross Carberry Ltd, Swansea, Wales

Achievement in Enterprise Promotion

* Steve Rawlings, chief executive of Lakehouse, Romford, Essex * Brian Tanner, professor of physics and Dean of Knowledge Transfer,

, Durham *

Sandy Ogilvie Sandy may refer to: People and fictional characters *Sandy (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the given name or nickname * Sandy (surname), a list of people *Sandy (Iranian music band), Iranian singer, compo ...

, retired chief executive, Project North East, Gateshead, Tyne and Weir * Claire Ferris, Manager, Work West Enterprise Agency, Belfast, N. Ireland * Steve Hoyle, managing director, Regenerate Pennine Lancashire Ltd, Accrington, Lancashire * Elizabeth Tappenden, director, In To Biz Limited, The Isle of Wight *

Hugh Burnett Hugh Burnett (July 14, 1918 – September 29, 1991) was an African-Canadian carpenter and civil rights leader. A descendant of slaves, Hugh Burnett was a carpenter in the rural Canadian town of Dresden, Ontario, Dresden, Ontario. He was active in ...

OBE, DL, founder and chairman, Enterprise Works, Newhaven, East Sussex * Russell Smith, chief executive officer, Business Boffins Ltd, Chinnor, Oxfordshire *

Chris Hunt Chris Hunt is a British journalist, magazine editor, and author. Hunt has worked in journalism for over thirty years, most often writing about football or rock music. He was editor of ''Match'' from 1993 to 2001, a period that saw the weekl ...

, retired assistant head teacher and director, Stress in Teaching Limited, Bournemouth, Dorset * Stuart Langworthy, Director of Business and Enterprise Specialism, Millbrook Academy, Brockworth, Gloucester

2013

Lifetime Achievement

* Claire Dove MBE, chief executive, Blackburne House Group, Liverpool, Merseyside

Achievement in Enterprise Promotion

* Lady Cunningham, enterprise development coach, Ways into Successful Enterprise, Allerdale Borough Council, Workington, Cumbria * Rajeeb Dey, CEO and founder, Enternships, London EC1 *

Richard Gallafent Richard is a male given name. It originates, via Old French, from Old Frankish and is a compound of the words descending from Proto-Germanic language">Proto-Germanic ''*rīk-'' 'ruler, leader, king' and ''*hardu-'' 'strong, brave, hardy', and i ...

, patent and trademark attorney, senior partner in Gallafents LLP, a private practice in London * Michael Herd, executive director, The Sussex Innovation Centre,

University of Sussex The University of Sussex is a public university, public research university, research university located in Falmer, East Sussex, England. It lies mostly within the city boundaries of Brighton and Hove. Its large campus site is surrounded by the ...

, Falmer, East Sussex * Ian Smith, vice principal, Surbiton High School for Girls, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey *

Elizabeth Towns-Andrews Elizabeth or Elisabeth may refer to: People * Elizabeth (given name), a female given name (including people with that name) * Empress Elisabeth (disambiguation), lists various empresses named ''Elisabeth'' or ''Elizabeth'' * Princess Elizabeth ( ...

, director of research and enterprise,

University of Huddersfield The University of Huddersfield is a public research university located in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England. It has been a University since 1992, but has its origins in a series of institutions dating back to the 19th century. It has made te ...

, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire * John Vernon, business advisor, Oxfordshire Business Enterprise, Banbury, Oxfordshire

2014

Source:

Lifetime Achievement

* Wray Irwin Director of Employability and Engagement,

University of Northampton The University of Northampton is a public university based in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England. It was formed in 1999 by the amalgamation of a number of training colleges, and gained full university status as the University of Northampto ...

Achievement in Enterprise Promotion

* Christine Atkinson, Deputy Director of Entrepreneurship,

University of South Wales The University of South Wales (USW) () is a public university in Wales, with campuses in Cardiff, Newport and Pontypridd. It was formed on 11 April 2013 from the merger of the University of Glamorgan and the University of Wales, Newport. The ...

, Pontypridd, Wales * Timothy Barnes, director of rnterprise operations and UCL advances,

University College London University College London (Trade name, branded as UCL) is a Public university, public research university in London, England. It is a Member institutions of the University of London, member institution of the Federal university, federal Uni ...

; Founder of

Citrus Saturday Citrus Saturday is an international experiential learning programme developed by UCL Advances, the centre for entrepreneurship and business interaction at University College London, aimed at teaching entrepreneurship and enterprise skills to youn ...

, London * Eric Binns, enterprise officer,

Calderdale Council Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council, also known as Calderdale Council, is the local authority for the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale in West Yorkshire, England. It is a metropolitan borough council and provides the majority of local gove ...

, Halifax, West Yorkshire *

Mark Hart Mark Hart (born July 2, 1953), is an American musician and multi-instrumentalist best known for being a member of both Supertramp (1986–1988, 1996–2002) and Crowded House (1993–1996, 2007–2016). As well as being a group member, touring ...

, chair, Small Business and Entrepreneurship,

Aston University Aston University (abbreviated as ''Aston'' for post-nominals) is a public university situated in the city centre of Birmingham, England. Aston began as the Birmingham Municipal Technical School in 1895, evolving into the UK's first College of a ...

, Birmingham * Guy Mucklow, chief executive officer, Postcode Anywhere (Europe) Ltd, Worcester * Ann Stonehouse, chair, Assist Women's Network, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire * Jayne Taggert, chief executive, Causeway Enterprise Agency, Coleraine, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland

2015

Source:

Lifetime Achievement

* Christopher Pichon The Wenta Business Centre

Achievement in Enterprise Promotion

* Steven Stokes of the University of Wales Trinity St Davids * Margaret Gibson of Women's Enterprise Scotland * Richard Holt of Creative Innovation Centre CIC * Nelson Campbell Gray, business investor * Lopa Patel digital media entrepreneur

2016

Source:

Lifetime Achievement

* Dorothy Francis, MBE, Co-Director of Co-operative and Social Enterprise Development Agency (CASE),

Leicester Leicester ( ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city, Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area, and the county town of Leicestershire in the East Midlands of England. It is the largest city in the East Midlands with a popula ...

Achievement in Enterprise Promotion

* Darrin M Disley, co-founder and chief executive officer of Horizon Discovery Group plc,

Cambridge Cambridge ( ) is a List of cities in the United Kingdom, city and non-metropolitan district in the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It is the county town of Cambridgeshire and is located on the River Cam, north of London. As of the 2021 Unit ...

Bejay Mulenga Bejay Mulenga (born Bejjy Mulenga; 6 July 1995) is a British entrepreneur, founder CEO, creative consultant and public speaker. At age 20, Mulenga became the youngest recipient of the Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion. He is founder of the ...

, founder, Supa Tuck and Supa Academy, London * Katherine Welch, founder, Social Enterprise Acumen CIC,

Durham Durham most commonly refers to: *Durham, England, a cathedral city in north east England **County Durham, a ceremonial county which includes Durham *Durham, North Carolina, a city in North Carolina, United States Durham may also refer to: Places ...

* Claire Locke, DL, founder, Artigiano, rntrepreneur and angel investor, vice-chair of The Prince's Trust Enterprise Fellowship, trustee, 1851 Trust,

Portsmouth Portsmouth ( ) is a port city status in the United Kingdom, city and unitary authority in Hampshire, England. Most of Portsmouth is located on Portsea Island, off the south coast of England in the Solent, making Portsmouth the only city in En ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Queen's Award For Enterprise Promotion Business education in the United Kingdom