King’s Awards for Enterprise recognise 24 North West companies

The third King’s Awards for Enterprise has recognised 24 North West companies.

Winners feature in the three categories of International Trade, Innovation, and Sustainable Development.

The awards celebrate the achievements of leading businesses from across the UK and Channel Islands and recognise their vital role in growing the UK’s economy to improve lives. 

This year, a total of 197 businesses representing a diverse range of sectors, have been recognised by The King as among the best in the country, highlighting the ambition, ingenuity, and success of the diverse business community.

This year’s North West recipients are:

Innovation

ApconiX, Alderley Edge, Cheshire, produces iSLA, an innovative assay for seizure liability to improve drug development safety and success rates.

Detectronic, Briefield, Lancashire, responsible for MCERTS accredited multi-sensor fluid level monitoring solution delivering high quality data seamlessly under surcharge conditions.

Dunphy Combustion, Greater Manchester, produces low NOx burner using hydrogen and natural gas as a fuel source in industrial applications.

Hurst Green Plastics, Whalley, Lancashire,  makes a patented Inventory Control System that is world-leading in the fields of Aerospace, Medical and Rail.

MyHappymind, Alderley Edge, Cheshire,  provides an NHS-backed, Science based programme to improve mental wellbeing and resilience in children.

Sky Medical Technology, Daresbury, Cheshire, is behind geko, a medical innovation that reduces pain fast and doubles the rate of healing chronic wounds.

Sustainable Development

The Lakes Free Range Egg Company, Penrith, Cumbria, is sustainably producing/ packing free range/organic eggs to the highest industry-leading animal welfare and environmental standards.

International Trade

Adlib Audio, Prescot, Merseyside, provides sound, lighting, video, and cinematic filming services to European and US artists and events.

Airpure International, Bury, Greater Manchester, designs, manufactures and innovates home and car fragrance products helping consumers ‘Decorate the Air’.

Cheese Matters, Garstang, Lancashire, ensures UK speciality cheeses appear on supermarket shelves worldwide, because Cheese Matters.

Clear Value Trading, Oldham, Greater Manchester, is a customer-focused wholesaler providing a tailored supply of leading toiletry and household products to retailers globally.

Createc, Cockermouth, Cumbria, is an R&D business driving international trade with innovative sensor technology, robotics, and AI.

Hasgrove, Manchester, specialises in cloud-hosted, out-of-the-box intranet software, with strategy, training, guidance, and support as required by customers.

Neal Jones Furniture, Lancaster, Lancashire, provides world leading luxury furniture for residences and superyachts around the globe, championing British craftsmanship and manufacturing.

Oliver Valves, Knutsford, Cheshire, offers instrumentation, gate, ball, and needle valves, primarily to energy sectors.

PHMG TOPCO, Manchester, says it is a world leader in audio branding, helping businesses across the globe forge connections through sound.

Pimberly, Manchester, is an SaaS provider of PIM and DAM software, empowering eCommerce companies to accelerate online sales.

PortSwigger, Knutsford, Cheshire, offers web application security software tools, that enable the world to secure the web.

Rainbow Cosmetics (own brand division), Whitefield, Greater Manchester, delivers high quality, sustainable, and affordable beauty products in line with its customers’ needs.

Reagent Chemical Services, Runcorn, Cheshire, is a chemical manufacturer delivering bespoke chemical solutions globally, powering industries around the world.

Roberts Recycling, Widnes, Cheshire, deals in used textiles.

Signum Aviation, Manchester, is involved in the provision of all the aviation services required by private, public and commercial aircraft operators.

The Config Team, Milnthorpe, Cumbria, SAP supply chain specialists, providing innovative software products, technical consultancy and support for customers worldwide.

Yordas Group, Lancaster, Lancashire, supports businesses with the global safe and sustainable management of chemicals.

Gareth Thomas, Minister for Services, Small Businesses and Exports said: “There are some exceptional businesses from the North West recognised in this year’s King’s Awards for Enterprise, from Createc’s cutting edge sensor technology to myHappymind’s inspiring work improving the mental wellbeing of children. 

“I wish the winners every success as they continue to grow, innovate and prosper, and commend the invaluable contributions they have already made to communities at home in the North West and abroad, helping to boost the UK economy.”

Laura Earnshaw, founder and CEO of myHappymind, said: “It is such an honour to be the recipient of a King’s Award for Enterprise. I started myHappymind as a mum on a mission to ensure all children receive a preventative mental health curriculum as part of their primary education, and we’re well on our way to achieving that.

“Hundreds of thousands of children now access the myHappymind curriculum in their schools and we’re endorsed by the NHS.

“To be recognised with this award marks a hugely important milestone on our journey and will only spur us on to reach every single child in the U.K. and beyond with our work.” 

William Newsom, CEO of Createc, said: “I am exceptionally proud of our team for earning our second King’s Award for International Trade. This achievement highlights our commitment to innovation and excellence on a global scale.

Createc team

“Our first King’s Award for Innovation was a testament to our technical creativity and this new accolade reinforces our dedication to expanding our international reach.

“This award means an incredible amount to us as a company, and we look forward to continuing to deliver exceptional results for our clients around the world.”

The Config Team’s managing director, Andrew Moses, said: “We could not be more delighted about winning the King’s Award.

“As an independent, family-owned company, our continued success in overseas markets is testament to the hard work and passion of the whole team.”

He added: “Building a successful business can be its own reward, but an award of this magnitude really is the ultimate recognition.

“We will display the King’s Award emblem proudly as we keep pushing forward for even more innovation and international growth well into the future.”

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PHMG – Founder Grant Reed

Manchester-based PHMG, an audio branding company, has been awarded the King’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade.

This recognition marks a major milestone in PHMG’s evolution from its 1998 beginnings in a Chester portacabin, to becoming a global audio branding powerhouse. Today, it employs over 800 people worldwide, with 450 based in the UK, and headquarters in Trafford Park, Manchester, close to one of its most celebrated clients — Manchester United.

PHMG pioneered On-Hold Marketing, helping businesses connect with callers through branded messaging and music. Now serving over 37,000 clients globally — including Adidas, AIG, TAG Heuer, Callaway, and Continental — PHMG empowers businesses to harness the power of sound across phone systems, websites, social platforms, and more.

The King’s Award recognises PHMG’s international growth, with 80% of its revenue generated internationally, primarily to the United States. Despite challenging global economic conditions and trade pressures, the company has maintained consistent, consecutive growth in international sales.

Grant Reed, Founder and CEO, commented: “This award is an incredible honour and a testament to the dedication of our entire team. To be recognised just days after announcing our transition to employee ownership makes this achievement even more meaningful. It reflects the bold and ambitious spirit of PHMG — a company driven by its people and its purpose.”

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The King’s Awards for Enterprise were previously known as The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise and were renamed two years ago to reflect His Majesty’s desire to continue the legacy of Queen Elizabeth II by recognising outstanding UK businesses.

The award programme, now in its 59th year, has awarded more than 8,000 companies since its inception in 1965.

His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenants – The King’s representatives in each county – will be presenting the awards to businesses locally throughout the year.

One representative from each winning business will also be invited to a special Royal reception event.

The recipients pass a robust assessment process, judged by experts from industry, academia, the voluntary sector, and senior officials in Whitehall.

On that basis, each year, The King’s Awards for Enterprise recipients are recommended by the Prime Minister and approved by The King.

Applications for The King’s Awards for Enterprise 2026 open today (May 6). For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/kings-awards-for-enterprise. 

Eligible businesses are free to apply for one or more categories. Awards are valid for five years. 

The KAO office will continue its promotion of the awards for the 2026 round, with a specific focus on increasing applications from under-represented groups, regions, and sectors.