More of Leicestershire’s small business innovators should put themselves forward for a King’s Award, according to Lord Lieutenant Mike Kapur.
Speaking during the Leicestershire Innovation Festival 2024 Mr Kapur described the benefits of receiving the Royal recognition, and expressed a belief in the talent in the county. He said: “Thirteen Leicestershire businesses have won the Award for Enterprise since 2018 – seven of them in the Innovation category.
“The Leicestershire Innovation Festival has once again shown us the breadth of ground-breaking work going on in our city and county – we want to make sure that more of these businesses are recognised at the highest level and are aware of the opportunities happening around them.
“The King’s Award for Enterprise is the UK’s most prestigious business award, presented annually to businesses which have proved outstanding in their field.”
He and Deputy Lieutenant, Ian Borley, welcomed guests to the event at the National Space Centre and presented opportunities available through the King’s Award.
Winners come from all sectors and include large and small businesses. Recognition is awarded across four categories: Innovation, International Trade, Sustainable Development, and Promoting Opportunity through Social Mobility.
Winners are invited to a Royal reception, can fly The King’s Awards flag at their office, use the emblem on marketing materials, and are presented with the award at their premises by the Lord-Lieutenant.
Meanwhile, guests also received an update on opportunities linked to the ongoing Space City Leicester cluster.
Space City Leicester was launched by City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby during an event at the Space Centre in March 2023.
It will create one of the UK’s largest Enterprise Zones for space-related activities, and represents up to £233 million of investment in new and planned facilities.
Chas Bishop, LLEP Director and CEO of the National Space Centre, said: “Plans for the Space City Leicester demonstrate the strategic importance of innovation in our region – as well as the opportunities being created to grow exciting businesses.”
Space City will work with partners from pre-school to post-doc – driving research, production, manufacturing, and development – as we builds on Leicester’s role as a key part of the UK’s Space sector.
It will also be home to other knowledge economy businesses, such as those working towards decarbonisation, innovative start-ups and growth businesses.
