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For nearly half a century, the Queen's Awards have been considered the foremost recognition of UK business achievement. This year, firms across the packaging supply chain shone. By Simeon Goldstein

While a UK Packaging Award can lay claim to be the most important prize in the packaging industry, it is clear that there are a vast array of accolades that UK businesses can win. Towards the top of the heap is surely the Queen’s Award for Enterprise. Now in its 44th year, a Queen’s Award is highly coveted by businesses up and down the country for its recognition of overseas commercial success, innovative development and social responsibility. Of the 1,078 firms that entered this year’s awards, a record 194 received the accolade, including a wealth of companies from across the packaging supply chain.

The Queen’s Award is the business knighthood, says William Beckett, founder and managing director of William Beckett Plastics, which won the award in the international trade category. Beckett says the award is all the more satisfying given that the Sheffield-based plastic packaging firm, which was founded in 1972, didn’t start exporting until 1990 – export now accounts for some 80% of the company’s sales. Exporting is the reason we’ve won the award, which means it’s basically for shipping empty boxes overseas, he says.

New opportunities
Beckett recognises that the award is for previous achievements but winning can open doors to a wider audience, and the firm continues to develop new product lines. We know that when it comes to plastic packaging, particularly coming from Sheffield which is famed for its steel, we are in a niche market. In tough times, anything you can do to attract new business is important, he says.

Another packaging firm to win in the international trade category is void-fill and protective packaging specialist Easypack. In fact, it is the second time the Stevenage-based firm has won a Queen’s Award, having been recognised in 2003. Export sales have grown by more than 130% since 2002 and now account for more than 60% of the firm’s business. Managing
director Mark Kempster says the award is testament to year-on-year growth and achievements against global competition.

Just Rollers, the South Wales-based rubber and polyurethane roller manufacturer, believes winning the award will help it identify new business opportunities. As a reflection of our credibility and quality, we expect the Queen’s Award will provide a tremendous boost in promoting our products, says managing director Geoff Davis.

Industry shines
Other winners in the international trade category include recycling firm John R Adam & Sons, ink manufacturer Apollo Colours, and design company Cambridge Consultants. Load handling firm Smartstak was recognised in the innovation category and UPM-Kymmene won the sustainable development award for its paper mill in North Wales.

An increasingly important element in packaging over recent years has been the environment and increased use of recycled material, and this has not gone unnoticed in this year’s Queen’s Awards. Teesside-based recycling firm Greenstar WES scooped a win in the innovation category, for its work in developing the recycling of high-density polyethylene back into food-grade material.

Managing director James Donaldson feels winning the award is a reflection of a great deal of hard work the team has put in over a number of years. He says it is particularly satisfying as it is not a specific industry award. It’s independent and pits you against companies from all different sectors.

The company has also recently embarked on a project with the Waste and Resources Action Programme to examine the commercial viability of recycling polypropylene back into food-grade material. We’ve achieved a lot. But particularly with food-grade materials it can take time, because we have to vigorously test to make sure we get it right, says Donaldson. Winning the award is a tribute to typical British ingenuity and application.

ROYAL SEAL OF APPROVAL
1966 Founded as Queen’s Awards to Industry
1976 Replaced by Queen’s Award for Export Achievement and Queen’s Award for Technological Achievement
1993 Introduction of Environmental Achievement Award
2000 Renamed Queen’s Award for Enterprise with three categories: International Trade, Innovation and Sustainable Development
2004 Addition of Enterprise Promotion Award