Yorkshire business excellence celebrated in The King’s Awards for Enterprise

The recipients of The King’s Awards for Enterprise have been revealed today, with a total of 11 awards going to businesses in the Yorkshire and Humber region.

Eight were recognised in the International Trade category, one for Innovation, and two for Sustainable Development.

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

The Award programme, now in its 59th year, has awarded over 8,000 companies since its inception in 1965.

This year’s recipients from Yorkshire and the Humber include:

• White Rose Education, a West Yorkshire-based business exporting its educational resources for teachers and students globally to drive growth, strengthen UK relations, and promote world-class learning. It has been recognised in the International Trade category.
• Integra Buildings, a manufacturer challenging the boundaries of what is possible in sustainable construction through bespoke design and offsite manufacturing. Based in the East Riding of Yorkshire, the company has been recognised in the Sustainable Development category.
• Think OTB, an innovation and marketing consultancy in Headingley, Leeds, which helps global organisations innovate. It has secured a King’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade. This builds on a previous stamp of royal approval in 2020, when the consultancy was awarded the Queen’s Award for International Trade.
• Turner & Townsend, the Leeds-headquartered global professional services company has received a King’s Award for International Trade. Previously, it received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in 2003, 2009, 2014, and 2020.
• SolderKing Assembly Materials, a Bridlington-based manufacturer of high-performance soldering materials and consumables. The firm, which has received a King’s Award for International Trade, exports to a growing number of countries, including Ireland, Scandinavia, and Central Europe, with exports representing 44 per cent of its total sales.
• International Energy Products, which is based in Sheffield, has won a King’s Award for International Trade. It is a manufacturer and stockholding firm of steel and specialised alloys, and its products are used in some of the world’s most demanding environments, including the energy, aviation, marine and defence sectors.

Gareth Thomas, Minister for Services, small businesses and exports, said: “There are some inspiring businesses from Yorkshire and the Humber recognised in this year’s King’s Awards for Enterprise: from White Rose Education’s success exporting educational resources around the world to Integra Building’s sustainable manufacturing methods.

White Rose Education

“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 Yorkshire and Humber region and abroad, helping to boost the UK economy.”

Michael Gosling, chair of the White Rose Education Board, said: “Receiving The King’s Award for International Trade is a huge honour and a reflection of the dedication, hard work and passion that drive everything we do at White Rose Education.

“This recognition not only celebrates our global reach but also reinforces our commitment to supporting teachers and pupils around the world with high-quality, accessible educational resources.

“It’s a proud moment for our entire team and is a testament to the positive impact we’re making in classrooms worldwide.”

ThinkOTB. Credit: Guzelian Media.

Gary Parker, CEO of Integra Buildings, said: “Receiving The King’s Award for Enterprise is a tremendous honour for our business and all of our team.

“This award reflects and rewards the total commitment we have across our business to excellence in project performance and delivery. It also recognises our commitment to adopting sustainable policies and practices in everything we do.

“Modular building has so many advantages over traditional methods of construction; one of those being that it is inherently more sustainable.

“We passionately believe that the future of construction is modular, and that the companies embracing sustainability will be the most successful for many years to come.”

Mark Davies, founder of ThinkOTB, said: “It’s a huge honour to follow on our Queen’s Enterprise Award five years ago, with a King’s Award.

“We’re proud to be one of the UK’s most creative companies operating in a niche marketplace, which combines innovation with marketing, becoming a ‘go-to’ expert for many international businesses.”

Managing director Jo Waddington, who has been instrumental in the consultancy’s international growth, said: “ThinkOTB has not only survived, but thrived through the decades and countless periods of economic turbulence and change.

Vincent Clancy, CEO of Turner & Townsend

“From a small office in Leeds, we have created an international organisation. Trends and platforms change, and change quickly, but the building blocks of creativity and ideas are what our consultancy is built on, alongside strong, long-lasting relationships.”

Vincent Clancy, chairman and chief executive officer, Turner & Townsend, said: “It’s an honour to receive the prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade.

“This achievement is the result of the outstanding contribution from everyone across the business, our continued commitment to excellence and our long-standing relationships with our clients around the world.

“Our breadth of experience in delivering the world’s most ambitious and innovative capital programmes ensures our teams can support our clients’ ambitions.

“Looking to the future, we are building on this momentum – investing in our people, our digital tools and capabilities, to support our long-term growth.”

Chris Ward, chief operating officer at SolderKing, said: “We are extremely proud to receive this prestigious recognition at SolderKing.

“As a relatively young company founded just six years ago, we identified export markets as a key growth opportunity early in our development.

“By implementing a strategic combination of direct sales and distributor partnerships, we’ve been able to rapidly expand our footprint despite challenging economic conditions.

“This success is a testament to the dedication of our team, the strength of our customer relationships, and the consistent demand for high-quality, compliant soldering materials.

“We look forward to building on this momentum and continuing our international growth in the years ahead.”

Emma Parkinson

Emma Parkinson, founder and CEO of International Energy Products, said: “This is a recognition of the ambition, skill and dedication of our team – and of our commitment to keeping Sheffield manufacturing as a leader on the global stage.

“Over the past few years, we’ve built strong international relationships while maintaining the quality and reliability of service that has defined our region’s steelmaking output for decades.

“Sheffield has a proud industrial legacy, and we’re honoured to play a part in shaping its future by combining traditional expertise with a global outlook. We see this as not only a milestone but a springboard for further growth and innovation in the years to come.”

Also receiving King’s Awards in Yorkshire and Humber were:

Vuba Chemical Innovations – Innovation

Beverley-based Vuba Chemical Innovations is a resin manufacturer and aggregate importer, supplying resin products directly to the Trade.

Technical Services (UK) – International Trade

Technical Services (UK) is based in Cleckheaton and received an award for International Trade. The firm designs, makes and supplies thermal management systems and solutions for vehicle, transport and power generation industries worldwide.

The Group Company (UK) – International Trade

The Group Company (UK), which is based in York, is a travel specialist, providing hotel allocation and tailor-made itineraries to international tour operators.

Abbey Forged Products – International Trade

Abbey Forged Products operates from Sheffield. It makes high integrity forged products for the Aerospace, Defence, Nuclear and Oil and Gas sectors.

AES Engineering – Sustainable Development

AES Engineering, based in Rotherham, is a specialist in the design and manufacture of mechanical seals and support systems.