Queen’s Awards for Enterprise: Sustainable Development Category
The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise is the most prestigious business awards programme in the world, and as you would expect, securing a coveted Queen’s Award title is not easy. Read on to find out more about what the judges are looking for in each category and see if you’ve got what it takes to become a winner…
What is does ‘Sustainable Development’ mean for the Queen’s Awards?
The Sustainable Development category is aimed at organisations who are developing products and services that have a good impact upon, and provide major benefits to the environment, society and the economy.
Sustainability is defined as an activity that “ensures a better quality of life for everyone, now and for generations to come”.
Who can enter the Sustainable Development category?
As with all Queen’s Award entries, you must have a minimum of 2 full-time (or part-time equivalent) employees and be based in the UK to enter.
You can be recognised and rewarded for either the products or services you provide, and/or for the way in which you have used your management systems to focus on sustainability and create the benefits described above.
For example, your organisation may have developed a new product that is proving its worth as both sustainable and beneficial for the environment, or perhaps the overall approach of the business encourages sustainability throughout it’s structure and performance. Your growing finances should demonstrate how a step-change, or a continued process has been a commercially successful approach.
What makes a Sustainable Development Queen’s Award winner?
Winners will be able to demonstrate that with sustainability at the heart of their organisation, they have created a commercially successful model that is growing in turnover and profit year on year, and has a strong business strategy for it’s current and on going success.
You might be able to demonstrate that the effective use of materials, your approach to social development, or your contribution to society has led to your business success, and in turn is demonstrating your commitment to sustainable practices.
Which sub-category of the award should you enter?
Entries must be made in one of the following sub-categories:
Outstanding Achievement (with growth maintained over 2 years) or
Continuous Achievement (with growth maintained over 5 years)
How many winners are there of the Sustainable Development Queen’s Award each year?
There are around 10 winners on average announced each year for the Sustainability category of the Queen’s Awards. This is far less than the number of awards given in the Innovation and International Trade categories, but this also reflects the relative number of entries/winners across categories. Recent winners include:
Jaguar Landrover (pictured above) who demonstrated that a reduction in environmental impact can have a highly positive impact on commercial performance.
Incognito who were recognised with a Sustainable Development Award for their environmentally innovative and ethical approach to the development of insect repellents
Berkley Homes who were recognised with an Sustainable Development Award for their environmental and social commitment to sustainable housing.
Can you enter more than one category?
Yes, so long as you meet all the criteria, take a look at the details here:
Promoting Opportunity through Social Mobility
How do you get started on your Queen’s Award entry?
If you think you could be eligible for a Queen’s Award entry in the Sustainable Development category and you would like professional assistance we will undertake a free and confidential eligibility check for you based upon your organisation’s commercial achievements over the past 2 – 5 years. We will also discuss what your organisation does and how you might meet the criteria. Entry deadline is noon 12 September 2018.
Call us today on +44 (0)1444 230130 for more information or email enquiries@awardsintelligence.co.uk to book your free consultation. We had an incredible 82% success rate for our clients in the last round and we want to build on it – so do be prepared for an honest assessment of your chances of success!
