King’s Awards for Enterprise Spotlighted at Surrey Research Park Event

Surrey Research Park, home to more than 200 pioneering companies, played host today to an inspiring gathering aimed at encouraging local businesses to apply for the UK’s most prestigious business accolade – the King’s Awards for Enterprise.

The event brought together past award recipients, aspiring applicants, and senior figures from Surrey’s business landscape to learn more about the value and impact of the King’s Awards, which recognise excellence in innovation, international trade, sustainable development, and promoting opportunity through social mobility.

Attended by the Lord-Lieutenant, with speakers including, a representative from the King’s Awards Office, a panel of recent Award winners, Councillor Matt Furniss, Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth on the Surrey Economy, and representatives from the Surrey Lieutenancy Business group.  

The Lord-Lieutenant said:

“We’ve had an excellent get together of companies who have won the King’s Awards for Enterprise, or are aspiring winners, this afternoon at the Research Park for Surrey University. We had six winners this year – an impressive increase from last year – We’ve heard from winners about the effect it has on staff morale, the business, suppliers and, most importantly, their clients”

The Award is a sign of value and quality – and the fact it is British gives it that extra seal of approval. 88% of winners are SMEs, many with just four or five employees – so this isn’t just about big PLCs. I’ve seen first-hand the effect of presenting the Award – you can feel the buzz in the room. It really is something to aspire to and achieve.”

Caroline Fleming, the University of Surrey’s Director of Surrey Innovation District ecosystem, said: 

“The Research Park is a very strong innovative community, and we hear amazing stories about what our companies are getting up to. They truly deserve the recognition the King’s Award can bring. We were really keen to bring the Award here to make sure our companies understand what it is, how to apply, and the benefits of the application process. We want to ensure that the companies that deserve it get a good chance to submit.”

Jean-Philippe Launberg, Strategy & Business Development Director at Gordon Murray Group, one of the county’s six winners this year said:

“The Award is validation for the 400 people that work for us that the past 4 and a half years of toiling and sweating and bloodletting have all paid off 

It’s great being recognised not just in house, but also outside the company and by our customers. So many of our customers around the world aspire to have the best of Britain, and now we can use the Award as confirmation that that is what they are getting”. 

Andrew Turner, Managing Director of AMT Marketing, who won a Queen’s Award for International Trade in 2019, said:

“Some people are concerned that it is time consuming to fill in the documentation but actually it focusses you on your business and points you in the right direction. It was a learning process to make my business more efficient.” 

“The staff were absolutely over the moon, motivated, and happy to be working for a company which has won something this prestigious…it is recognition for the management team and the staff for what we have achieved, and it has helped with staff retention –  we still have most of the team who were with us in 2019.”

About The King’s Award for Enterprise

The Awards are for outstanding achievement by UK businesses in the categories of innovation, international trade, sustainable development and promoting opportunity through social mobility.

Recipients are invited to a Royal reception,  presented with the award by one of The King’s representatives, able to fly The King’s Awards flag at company headquarters, use the emblem on marketing materials  and presented with a Grant of Appointment (an official certificate) and a commemorative crystal trophy.

The awards are valid for 5 years and organisations that have received an award have reported benefiting from, worldwide recognition, increased commercial value and a boost to staff morale.

Applications for a King’s Award for Enterprise 2026 can be made online www.gov.uk/kings-awards-for-enterprise. Applications must be submitted by 9th September 2025, with the winners being announced on 6th May 2026.