The King’s Awards are open to all UK-based businesses that meet the eligibility criteria for each category. Smaller businesses make up the majority of applicants, as they do businesses in the UK, but we welcome applicants from all business sizes. The sophistication of applications is expected to increase as businesses increase in size.

The eligibility criteria for each category vary, but in general, businesses must be based in the UK and have at least two full-time employees or part-time equivalents. They must also have a minimum of two years of trading history.

Winning a King’s Award can bring many benefits, including increased international recognition, enhanced brand reputation, and the ability to use the King’s Award emblem on company materials.

Winners of the King’s Awards are selected by an independent panel of judges who review the applications and make recommendations to His Majesty The King for approval.

The winners of the King’s Awards will typically be announced in April each year.

Businesses can apply for the King’s Awards online through the official website. The application process typically opens in May and closes in September.

Yes, businesses can apply for multiple categories of the King’s Awards, but they must submit separate applications for each category.

No, there is no fee to apply for the King’s Awards. It is a free and open awards programme.

The application process for the King’s Awards typically takes several weeks to complete, and businesses are encouraged to start the process early. The application deadline is usually in September, and the winners are announced the following April.

The King’s Awards application requires detailed information about the business, including financial data, product or service descriptions, and evidence of excellence in the relevant category. Businesses must also provide supporting documentation, such as references and testimonials. Please be entirely accurate and transparent with all information supplied. Full due diligence will be undertaken on everything you provide and discrepancies will potentially be damaging for your application.

Yes, previous winners of the King’s Awards are eligible to apply again, but they must wait at least five years after winning before reapplying.

The number of King’s Awards given out each year varies, but there are usually between 200 – 400 winners across all categories.

The King’s Awards are considered to be one of the most prestigious business awards in the UK, and winning a King’s Award is a significant achievement that can bring many benefits to the business.

No, the King’s Awards are only open to businesses that are based in the UK.

There is no minimum turnover requirement to apply for the King’s Awards, but businesses must be able to demonstrate strong financial performance and growth.

Winners of the King’s Awards are invited to attend a reception at Buckingham Palace, hosted by His Majesty The King. They also receive a commemorative crystal trophy and a certificate signed by The King.

Yes, businesses are allowed to use the King’s Awards emblem on their marketing materials, such as product packaging, websites, and social media channels. However, there are strict guidelines on how the emblem can be used, and businesses must ashere to these guidelines. This is for a period of up to 5 years after winning the award.

Yes, if your business is based in Cheshire and would like some guidance, please e mail [email protected] and we will try to connect you with one of our mentors who may be able to provide guidance and support.

The King’s Awards for Innovation is looking for businesses that have demonstrated innovation in a product, service, or business process. This could include technological innovation, process innovation, or innovation in design or marketing.

To be eligible for the King’s Award for Innovation, businesses must have a minimum of two full-time employees or part-time equivalents and have been in operation for at least two years. They must also have demonstrated outstanding innovation in their product, service, or business process.

To apply for the King’s Award for Innovation, businesses must provide evidence of their innovation, such as patents, customer feedback, case studies, and expert testimonials. The assessing panel is looking for applicants to tell a story about how their innovation arose and has developed. It is important to recognise that an innovation is a business proposition that is generating consistent and growing revenue, normally at least 20% year on year growth. This is quite different from an invention, which might be ground-breaking but which hasn’t yet generated revenue, which would not be successful if applied for. It is useful to describe who was involved in the innovation, your competitors (or the alternatives in the market place…tHise always are alternatives, so please don’t say you don’t have any competitors), how you are different and the obstacles you have overcome.

Yes, businesses in any industry can apply for the King’s Award for Innovation, as long as they meet the eligibility criteria and can demonstrate outstanding innovation in their product, service, or business process

To be eligible for the King's Award for International Trade, businesses must have a minimum of two full-time employees or part-time equivalents and have been in operation for at least two years. They must also have demonstrated substantial growth in overseas earnings and commercial success.

To apply for the King's Award for International Trade, businesses must provide evidence of their growth and commercial success in international trade, such as overseas sales figures, export strategy, and testimonials from overseas customers. The assessors like to see evidence of a strongly ethical approach to doing business overseas, highlighting how they exercise their corporate responsibilities as they trade internationally.

Yes, businesses in any industry can apply for the King's Award for International Trade, as long as they meet the eligibility criteria and can demonstrate outstanding growth and commercial success in international trade.

Winning the King's Award for International Trade can bring many benefits to a business, including increased recognition and exposure, enhanced reputation, and the ability to use the King's Award emblem on their marketing materials.

Winners of the King's Award for International Trade are selected by an independent panel of judges who review the applications and make recommendations to His Majesty The King for approval.

The King's Award for International Trade is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious international trade awards in the UK, as it is the only award program that is overseen by His Majesty The King. It also requires businesses to demonstrate outstanding growth and commercial success in international trade over a minimum of three years

The King's Awards for Sustainable Development is specifically looking for achievement against the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals. Details can be accessed via this link: THE 17 GOALS | Sustainable Development (un.org). Applicants are not necessarily expected to perform highly against every goal, but nevertheless would be expected to have considered most of them and made serious strides, in the opinion of the assessors, against at least some of them. This could include reducing greenhouse gas emissions, implementing circular economy practices, supporting sustainable supply chains, and promoting social equality.

To be eligible for the King's Award for Sustainable Development, businesses must have a minimum of two full-time employees or part-time equivalents and have been in operation for at least two years. They must also have demonstrated outstanding sustainable development practices and made a positive impact on the environment, society, and the economy.

To apply for the King's Award for Sustainable Development, businesses must provide evidence of their sustainable development practices, such as sustainability reports, carbon footprint analysis, social impact assessments, and stakeholder engagement. Evidence of attempts to reduce and preferably eliminate the use of plastics would be beneficial. Marks are broken down against the following headings: Positive Sustainable Development impacts (50%) Strategic Objectives (25%) Approach to Business (25%)

Yes, businesses in any industry can apply for the King's Award for Sustainable Development, as long as they meet the eligibility criteria and can demonstrate outstanding sustainable development practices and a positive impact on the environment, society, and the economy.

Winning the King's Award for Sustainable Development can bring many benefits to a business, including increased recognition and exposure, enhanced reputation, and the ability to use the King's Award emblem on their marketing materials.

Winners of the King's Award for Sustainable Development are selected by an independent panel of judges who review the applications and make recommendations to His Majesty The King for approval. The panel of judges includes experts in sustainable development, business, and academia

The King's Awards for Promoting Opportunity assessors are looking for a range of impacts, which might include supporting apprenticeships and training, implementing flexible working policies, promoting diversity and inclusion, and investing in community development initiatives. Critically evidence of impact is more important than plans and policies. Clarity of target groups is key, and articulation of the journey from start, to middle and end, is essential, with hard numbers to evidence your progress and impact. Any programmes needed to be demonstrably embedded in the organisation, from top to bottom.

To be eligible for the King's Award for Promoting Opportunity, businesses must have a minimum of two full-time employees or part-time equivalents and have been in operation for at least two years. They must also have demonstrated outstanding social mobility and have made a positive impact on their employees or the wider community by promoting opportunity and social mobility.

To apply for the King's Award for Promoting Opportunity, businesses must provide evidence of their social mobility and opportunity promotion practices, such as employee engagement surveys, diversity and inclusion reports, apprenticeship and training programs, and community development initiatives.

Yes, businesses in any industry can apply for the King's Award for Promoting Opportunity, as long as they meet the eligibility criteria and can demonstrate outstanding social mobility and have made a positive impact on their employees or the wider community by promoting opportunity and social mobility.

Winning the King's Award for Promoting Opportunity can bring many benefits to a business, including increased recognition and exposure, enhanced reputation, and the ability to use the King's Award emblem on their marketing materials.

Winners of the King's Award for Promoting Opportunity are selected by an independent panel of judges who review the applications and make recommendations to His Majesty The King for approval. The panel of judges includes experts in social mobility, business, and academia.