A socks specialist backed by Dragon Steven Bartlett and a business founded in a garage just five years ago are among the North West firms to be recognised in this year's King's Awards for Enterprise.
Twenty North West firms have been honoured in this year's King's Awards as the prestigious scheme marks its 60th anniversary. They include TechPlant, which was founded in a Blackburn garage in 2021 and today sells scientific instruments around the world. Meanwhile previous winners Travel Counsellors and Oliver Valvetek have been recognised again, as has Bolton manufacturer Beldam Crossley in its 150th anniversary year.
Stand Out Socks, which won investment from Peter Jones and Steven Bartlett on BBC Dragons' Den in 2024, has won royal recognition for its backing of people with Down Syndrome and learning disabilities.
The awards scheme was launched in 1965 as the Queen's Awards to recognise the best in British business and to honour those firms that are helping to improve lives. It has recognised more than 8,000 British businesses in total. This year there were 186 recipients in total across the UK. Of them, 76 businesses have been recognised for International Trade, 52 for Innovation, 36 for Sustainability and 22 for Promoting Opportunity through social mobility.
This year the awards are launching a new category, for young founders. It will recognise founders aged 18–30 who are actively leading their businesses and building success with impact.
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."
King's Awards for Innovation
Travel Counsellors
This is the fourth time Manchester's Travel Counsellors has received a King's or Queen's Award. It secured International Trade honours in 2014 and 2020, and previously won an Innovation award in 2003. This year it was recognised for the development of its technology platform. Last year Travel Counsellors moved into the North American market with the acquisition of TTAND in Canada. It now works with more than 4,000 travel business owners in countries including the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, South Africa and the UAE.
Steve Byrne, global CEO at Travel Counsellors, said: "We are incredibly proud to receive a King's Award For Enterprise for the fourth time. Being recognised for Innovation is especially meaningful, because it reflects how our model has evolved as we create ways for travel entrepreneurs to build businesses that truly work for them, including how they can work together to enhance their expertise and offering to corporate travel clients, supported with the freedom, flexibility and guidance they need to succeed."
Chemical Processing Services
The firm based in Wrightington, Wigan, has been recognised for its Innovative new disruptive technology for epoxy systems. Boss Paul Jones told BusinessLive he was "delighted" to receive the award. He said: "This award recognises our work in developing high-performance chemical solutions that avoid the use of CMR (carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic) substances, addressing a long-standing challenge in the sector. Our approach demonstrates that it is possible to deliver demanding technical performance while significantly improving health and environmental outcomes."
Idem Safety Switches
Idem, based in Hindley Green, Wigan, was recognised for its development of a safety switch with dual anti-tamper features, incorporating RFID technology, providing enhanced protection from forced entry. The company said: "Idem are very proud to receive its 4th King's Award for Enterprise. This recognises the continued devotion to innovation in safety switches and the overriding mission of keeping people safe in industry."
Internet Investigations Solutions
Liverpool-based IIS was honoured for its work providing "world-class secure internet intelligence and investigation solutions to carefully vetted public service organisations".
New Reg
The number plate and personalised registration specialist, based in Longton, Preston, was recognised for its "AI-driven system, automating the identification and pricing of vehicles, providing seamless integrated holistic customer experience".
Oliver Valvetek
This is the third King's or Queen's Award for Oliver Valvetek, its first in the innovation category, and the fourth award overall across Knutsford's wider Oliver group. This year's recognition for Valvetek is for the development of its Face Seal arrangement for subsea gate valves, which the company says has "delivered a major improvement in sealing performance, reliability and manufacturability for demanding subsea applications, particularly where high pressure and deepwater performance are critical".
Quantum Science
The Daresbury tech business has been recognised for its work developing INFIQ infrared quantum dot technology. It says the product has "real commercial momentum" and that it could be used in fields including consumer electronics, automotive systems, industrial automation, medical diagnostics and defence.
King's Awards for International Trade
TechPlant
When two friends founded their hi-tech equipment supply business in a Blackburn garage during the Covid pandemic, they could never have believed that five years later they'd win a King's Award for their international success. Muhammad Geloo and Aziz Bham had no investors, no loans, and no prior experience in the sector when they joined forces in the back of Dock Street Garage to source, restore and resell high-value precision instruments that had been disposed of or written off by large organisations. Five years on their business TechPlant, which trades as TT Instruments, employs six and sells to more than 70 countries worldwide with almost 80% of its turnover coming from international customers. Its directors remain proud they have never received a government grant or taken on external debt.
Altus Science
The Runcorn biotech firm has been recognised for its global success providing Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) for the life science industry. The company told BusinessLive: "Our goal has always been to make high-quality, compliant standards whilst supporting our customers through technical, scientific expertise. This customer-focused approach to producing standards accredited to the highest possible quality standards has resulted in fantastic organic growth over the last three years. We are extremely proud to be awarded the King's Award in recognition of this."
Beldam Crossley
Hi-tech manufacturer Beldam Crossley has been recognised for its recent growth in overseas sales. Overseas sales increased by more than 93% from 2022 to 2024, with key markets including the United States, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Malaysia, Turkey, Spain, Portugal and West Africa. The Bolton company can trace its history back to 1876 and has been trading under its current name since 1914. Today it makes high-performance polymer components, bearings and sealing systems used in sectors including aerospace, offshore energy, marine, defence, chemical processing, food production and industrial engineering.
Northern Consortium UK
The Manchester group has been recognised for its UK university pathway programmes with partners in more than 40 countries worldwide. Stuart Smith, chief executive officer of NCUK said: "The King's Award is the ultimate recognition of what our team and our international partners have built together. It also reflects the progress we have made as an organisation over the last few years. I am immensely proud of the work of everyone at NCUK and our global community."
PSW Integrity
The Birkenhead-based business was recognised for "supporting industries worldwide in asset management and reliability engineering, optimising operational efficiency and sustainability".
QBS Technology Group
The Alderley Edge software firm was honoured for its overseas sales success supply software "that the world's largest companies use each and every day". Dave Stevinson, Group CEO QBS Software, said: "I am incredibly proud to receive this recognition from the King. In the last eight years, since starting the company, our international sales have gone from zero to well over half a billion dollars of recurring revenue. We are on target to go beyond a billion dollars by 2030, through our investment in people and technology."
Redmayne 1860
Carlisle's Redmayne 1860 was honoured for its work "combining tradition and technology to deliver British bespoke tailoring to a global audience". The company told BusinessLive: "To receive The King's Award for Enterprise in International Trade is a tremendous honour for all of us here at Redmayne. As a Cumbrian firm with over 160 years of heritage, it is a particularly proud moment not only for British craftsmanship, but for the tradition of craftsmanship here in Cumbria."
Sterling Quality Services
Exports now make up more than 78% of total sales at Sterling Quality Services (SQS), which delivers inspection, expediting and supply chain assurance services in the energy, infrastructure and science sectors. It's been recognised for its 195% growth in overseas revenue over the past three years. The group now operates across 50 countries, backed by a network of more than 2,000 inspectors.
King's Awards for Promoting Opportunity
Stand Out Enterprises
Stand Out Socks won investment on BBC Dragons' Den in 2024 for its work empowering people with Down Syndrome and learning disabilities. The colourful sock business was co-founded by an entrepreneur with Down Syndrome, Ross Laing, and has created thousands of hours of paid work for people with Down Syndrome. On Dragon's Den, the Warrington business received offers from four of the five Dragons and ultimately took investment from Steven Bartlett and Peter Jones. Co-founder Christian Laing said: "We are truly overwhelmed and deeply honoured to receive The King's Award for Enterprise. It is hard to put into words what this means to us. Stand Out Socks began with a simple belief – that people with learning disabilities deserve real, paid, meaningful work and the chance to be seen for what they can do, not what they are assumed not to be able to do."
Laltex & Company Limited
The Laltex Group, from Leigh, has been recognised for the success of its supported employment initiative designed to create opportunities for individuals who face significant barriers to work. It has worked with organisations such as Seashell Trust to support people with complex learning disabilities to get employment experience and to develop skills, confidence, and independence.
The Forshaw Group
Property restoration specialist The Forshaw Group was recognised for the development of its INS-Pire academy that aims to encourage young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, into the insurance and construction industries. Liam Hanlon, managing director of Knowsley's Forshaw Group, said: "We are beyond delighted to be presented with the King's Award for Enterprise: Promoting Opportunity. This achievement is a culmination of many years of commitment to social mobility within our community, and beyond."
King's Awards for Sustainability
Protec International
Protec International, of Adlington, Stockport, makes, supplies and recycles temporary protection materials and sustainable site signage. It has been recognised for its efforts to cut plastic waste and its work remanufacturing materials, reducing carbon, and maximising social value in construction. CEO James Harrison said he was "honoured" the company had won the award. He said: "This recognition reflects the collective effort across our business and a shared mindset: 'Where others see plastic waste, we see wasted plastic'."
Topspeed Couriers
Topspeed Couriers of Wilmslow has been recognised for its work in sustainable logistics, decarbonising its fleet and providing second chance employment. The business was founded in 1985 by CEO Stephen Clegg to specialise in the secure transport of controlled and regulated goods. It now employs more than 100 people. Mr Clegg said: "Winning the King's Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development is a huge moment for Topspeed, and I'm incredibly proud that our commitment to operating responsibly has been recognised at a national level."
