Deadline looms for Queen’s Awards

Businesses have less than two weeks to apply for the 2011 Queen’s Award for Sustainable Development, by 2pm on Friday, 29 October.

The annual Queen's Awards for Enterprise and Enterprise Promotion are the UK’s most prestigious corporate awards. They are free to enter and presented annually by HM The Queen for the highest levels of excellence.

There are three categories in the Enterprise section: Sustainable Development, International Trade and Innovation. Each is open to any business based and operating in the UK, with at least two full-time employees (or part-time equivalents), a demonstrable track-record of commercial success, and the ability to meet the specific entry criteria for the relevant category.

The number of awards made in each category varies each year, according to the quality of applications, but every winner receives national and worldwide recognition.

To qualify for the Enterprise Award for Sustainable Development a business needs to show that it has "ensured a better quality of life for everyone, now and for generations to come". Applications are accepted for either outstanding advances in sustainable development over at least two years, or continuous achievement in sustainable development over the last five years.

Entries should cover achievements which relate to either: invention, design, production of goods, performance of services including advice, marketing, distribution or after-sales support; or the management of resources or people and of relationships with organisations.

All entrants that meet the full eligibility criteria will receive feedback on their application, including strengths and weaknesses and suggestions for improvement.

The independent awards are given for five years. Winners are entitled to use the official award emblem, to attend a special reception at Buckingham Palace and to receive their award in person from the Lord Lieutenant of their county, on behalf of the Queen.

Previous North West winners include Recycling Lives Ltd in Preston earlier this year, The North Mersey Business Centre in Merseyside in 2008, The Co-operative Group in Manchester and Epsilon Technical Services in Chester in 2007, and The North of England Zoological Society in Chester in 2006.