The 2017 Queen’s Award for Enterprise (QAE) winners were unveiled yesterday and there was not a single north or north-east firm among them.
Now in its 51st year, the QAEs are among the most prestigious business awards in the UK.
They are presented annually by the Queen to acknowledge the highest levels of excellence in each category, with winners allowed to use the esteemed award emblem for the next five years.
According to research by Strathclyde University, 73% of international trade winners between 2012 and 2015 directly attributed increased export sales to winning a QAE.
Just six Scottish companies made this year’s 176-strong list of award winners, including 102 for international trade, 57 for innovation, 11 for sustainable development and six for promoting opportunity.
A QAE spokeswoman said the small number of winners from north of the border, compared with 19 last year, when there were six in the north and north-east, reflected the level of entries.
But QAE’s team would soon be travelling around the UK to drum up interest in the 2018 competition, especially in “under-represented” areas, she said.
Entries for the 2018 awards are already being accepted, with the deadline set for September 1.
The 2017 Scottish winners, all in the Glasgow area, were City Legacy, CMS Enviro Systems, Clyde Space, ClinTec International, Glencairn Crystal Studio and M Squared Lasers.
