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 opens new window 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 2026 winners in a special Gazette supplement:
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 2026 Awards will open later in the year.
You can visit the website to apply opens new window and to find a full list of the eligibility criteria.
Previous King's Awards for Enterprise winners
| Year | List |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Gazette issue 65058 |
| 2025 | Gazette issue 64723 |
| 2024 | Gazette issue 64386 |
| 2023 | Gazette issue 64032 |
Previous Queen's Awards for Enterprise winners
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 opens new window (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
6 May 2026