Two hundred and forty-three businesses across the UK have received a new Queen’s Award for Enterprise, recognising their contribution to international trade, innovation and sustainable development.

Businesses Secretary Sajid Javid named the winners of the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise and the five individual recipients of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion.

This year’s winners are UK businesses leading the way in a broad range of industries - from cloud computing and medical device manufacture, to pet health and sports broadcasting.

Seven businesses received awards for sustainable development, with a further 92 awards presented for innovation. The category for international trade increased to 150 winners, indicating the high quality of entries from businesses showing outstanding growth in overseas earnings.

Six small and medium sized companies - Powder Systems Ltd, Peak Scientific Instruments, Liquid Gas Equipment Ltd, JCB Power, Vision RT and Inciner8 Limited - all achieved double recognition, receiving awards for both innovation and international trade.

Business Secretary Sajid Javid said:

“The Queen’s Awards are a great way of celebrating the best of British business. Whether you’re a disruptive start-up making life easier for your customers or a large company with a blockbuster product, these awards recognise your contribution to enterprise.

“We are a country full of exciting and innovative businesses that deserve to be celebrated. I’d like to commend all the winners for their hard work in creating jobs for people and driving our growing economy.”

Widely regarded as the most prestigious business awards in the country, 2016 marks the 50^th anniversary for the winners of the Queen’s Awards scheme in what is also her Majesty the Queen’s 90^th birthday year. The winning businesses will also be able to use the esteemed Queen’s Awards emblem for the next five years.

In addition, five people nominated by their peers have been recognised for their efforts to encourage entrepreneurship in the UK with the Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion. This year’s winners include a range of entrepreneurs who have worked with or mentored young people and helped encourage the next generation of entrepreneurs through the development of social enterprises.