A total of 14 companies from across Yorkshire and the Humber region have been recognized in the prestigious King's Awards for Enterprise, now in its 60th year. The winners span a diverse range of industries, from hair-dissolving laundry technology to firefighter PPE and construction skills training.
Regional Winners
The Yorkshire & Humber recipients include AW Hainsworth & Sons Limited, C-Kore Systems Limited, Ideal Boilers Limited, Ionix Advanced Technologies, VAC-EX Limited, Ardent Limited, Cares Laboratory Ltd, Independent Forgings and Alloys Ltd, Irwin Mitchell LLP, Sport:80, Vuba Chemical Innovations Limited, M.B.Roche & Sons Ltd, Sewell Ventures, and Techbuyer Limited. These firms join 186 national awardees, with Hull and East Yorkshire seeing the highest number of winners in a decade.
Ideal Boilers Recognized for Innovation
Hull-based Ideal Boilers, employing nearly 1,000 people, received its fourth royal award—previously winning three Queen's Awards. The company was honored in the Innovation category for its role in the UK's transition to heat pumps. CEO Adam Foy stated: "Receiving The King's Award for Enterprise is a great honour and an incredibly proud moment for us. As a major UK manufacturer with a proud history and heritage, we're delighted to receive this royal recognition for how we're shaping the transition to heat pumps across the UK." He added: "The King's Award reflects the scale of ambition and commitment our team has shown in transforming not just our own business, but in leading the evolution of the wider UK heating industry."
Jim Dick OBE, Lord-Lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire, congratulated the winners: "I am delighted to congratulate the recipients of the King's Award for Enterprise in Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire. These outstanding businesses exemplify excellence, ambition and innovation, and their success reflects the strength and diversity of our local economy. This prestigious recognition is richly deserved, and I hope it gives them great pride and confidence as they continue to grow and inspire others across our region."
Vamoosh: Pet Hair Dissolving Technology
Barnsley-based Cares Laboratory developed Vamoosh, a formula that dissolves pet hair in washing machines. Launched in 2017, the product is now in over 5,000 UK retail outlets and has sold millions of units. In the last 18 months, export partners grew from four to 12, and Vamoosh is now available in 30 countries including Australia, Germany, South Africa, the Nordics, and the USA. Founder Tom Abbey said: "We're absolutely delighted to receive the King's Award for Enterprise for International Trade. To see the growth of Vamoosh recognised in such a prestigious way is an honour for the whole team. Over the last few years, we've worked incredibly hard to grow the brand internationally, bringing our patented innovations to households around the world, so it's fantastic to see those efforts recognised with the UK's highest business award. This achievement is a real reflection of the passion, dedication and innovation across the entire Vamoosh team, and we're excited for what the future holds."
Government Praise
Blair McDougall, minister for Small Businesses and Economic Transformation, said: "A huge congratulations to every business receiving awards this year, who once again have illustrated the best of British innovation and talent. These awards show that right across the UK, there are small businesses that are thriving, growing and succeeding and it's only right that we champion these successes."
Overall, 76 businesses were recognized for International Trade, 52 for Innovation, 36 for Sustainability, and 22 for Promoting Opportunity.
