It’s a double celebration for the King on 6 May, not only because the world will watch his Coronation at Westminster Abbey, but because it’s the day the entries open for his (recently renamed) King’s Awards for Enterprise 2024 – and we want to do everything we can to support a strong showing from our county and our members.
We’re holding a launch event for the Awards on 18 May at Cranfield University to encourage interest and enable you to get some inspiration from past winners (more information is available from Paula.Devine@chamber-business.com), but in the meantime we also thought it would be helpful to take you through some detail.
So, here's what you need to know about the categories the Awards cover, the kinds of achievements the judges are looking for, how you go about entering, where you can get help with the application process, and when you might learn that you’ve won.
What are the Awards, and who can enter?
Previously the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, the Awards exist to give public recognition for outstanding achievement by UK businesses in the categories of innovation, international trade, sustainable development, and promoting opportunity through social mobility.
Winners can use the Awards logo on their websites, in their marketing materials, and in their printed and electronic communications, and it carries a great deal of kudos in business circles.
To enter, your business or organisation must:
- be based in the UK, Channel Islands, or Isle of Man
- have a good compliance record with HMRC
- be a self-contained enterprise that markets its own products or services under its own management
- have at least two full-time UK employees or part-time equivalents
- demonstrate strong corporate social responsibility
Entries can be from both businesses and non-profit organisations, and each Awards category has its own specific requirements and conditions, which you can read in full here.
So, thinking of entering? Here’s how.
How to apply for the King’s Awards for Enterprise
The Awards are free to enter, and you can apply for more than one Award.
You first need to create an account here, which will enable you to submit your entry, as well as receive Awards-related updates.
If your marketing agency or consultant is applying on your behalf, you should create an account yourself first, then add your agency or consultancy as a collaborator.
The Awards are highly respected in both the UK and abroad, and so the entry process is necessarily rigorous. The King’s Award Helpline offers some guidance on entries (kingsawards@beis.gov.uk / 020 7215 6880), but Chamber members are also able to reach out to the Chamber team for any support and guidance.
What happens after you’ve entered
The entry period closes at midday on 12 September 2023. After that, shortlisted organisations will be notified in October, with a deadline to provide verified commercial figures by November.
Winners will be notified in March 2024, with helpful feedback on applications being supplied to non-winners at the same time.
On 6 May 2024, the winners are announced in the London Gazette, and in the summer the pomp and finery commences in earnest, as representatives from the winning organisations are invited to attend a Royal reception.
Just another way we benefit our members
Communicating reputation-enhancing opportunities like this to our members, and supporting them to take advantage of them, is just one in a long list of value-adds we bring to our membership.
Becoming a Bedfordshire Chamber member also means you benefit from networking opportunities throughout the year, targeted Meet the Buyer events to connect you 1-to-1 to the businesses most likely to be interested in your products and services, webinars, online resources, and tools to help you get to grips with everything from export to carbon reduction, and a great deal else besides.
And in addition, we’re a figurehead, representing local businesses at regional and national level, and speaking up on the issues that matter to us and you.
For more information on how to join Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce, visit www.chamber-business.com, or call 01582 522448.
