Tag: Business and Trade Department

The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 30 July 2024.

Postmasters whose convictions have been overturned by the Post Office Offences Act can now apply to a new redress scheme.

Postmasters whose convictions have been overturned by the Post Office Offences Act (including that passed by the Scottish Government) can now apply to a new redress scheme.

From today, postmasters are invited to come forward and register for the scheme, known as the Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme (HCRS).  Once eligibility is confirmed the new scheme will provide swift and fair redress, allowing those affected to rebuild their lives.

Many victims have been traumatised by the Post Office Horizon Scandal and this scheme aims to ensure that postmasters receive redress without unnecessary bureaucracy.

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

Postmasters have suffered immeasurably so I hope today’s new redress scheme brings some relief to postmasters who have waited far too long to get back the money that is rightfully theirs.

Any postmaster who thinks they are eligible for this scheme can come forward and register. We know that every case is different, and this government fully supports the right of every postmaster to choose what is best for them.”

Postmasters eligible can either accept a fixed settlement of £600,000 or those who believe their losses exceed that amount can choose a full claim assessment route. This will mean their application will be fully examined by a team of dedicated caseworkers in the Department for Business and Trade.

The scheme will be delivered by the Department for Business and Trade with a key aim of providing as much transparency as possible about how it will operate and how decisions will be taken on redress.  Guidance has been published today which will allow postmasters to see how much redress they may be eligible for and what will be taken into account when assessing applications.

Following Royal Assent of the Post Office Offences Act, hundreds of postmasters had their convictions overturned providing they met the following criteria:

• Prosecutions were brought about by the Post Office or Crown Prosecution Service (or in Northern Ireland, the state prosecutor or the police).
• Offences were carried out in connection with Post Office business between 1996 and 2018.
• Offences were for relevant offences such as theft, fraud and false accounting.
• Offences were against sub-postmasters, their employees, officers, family members or direct employees of the Post Office working in a Post Office that used the Horizon system software.
• The conviction has not been considered by the Court of Appeal

The Department for Business and Trade will work closely with the Ministry of Justice to confirm the eligibility of individuals registering for the scheme and postmasters with overturned convictions will begin to receive written confirmation of their exoneration from the Ministry of Justice from this week.

The letters will also explain how criminal justice agencies will be amending their court and criminal records. If there is insufficient evidence to confirm that a conviction can be quashed, postmasters may receive a request to submit further information.

Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Shabana Mahmood, said:

Justice must be a reality, not an ideal. Today we begin putting this into practice by overturning the convictions of the innocent postmasters affected by this inexplicable and unprecedented miscarriage of justice.

I pay tribute to those hard-working men and women for their courage and determination. I am pleased today we can begin to right this wrong and ensure they are quickly and fairly compensated.”

The Government has committed to paying all reasonable legal fees for postmasters’ legal representation to ensure more of their own money is not spent on this appalling scandal.

The independent inquiry continues its work of uncovering the truth behind the Horizon scandal so that the right people can be held to account, and justice can be served.

The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 29 July 2024.

• Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds set to deliver trade negotiations with international partners, including the Gulf Cooperation Council and India
• Government will launch new trade strategy to help deliver its growth mission, with UK businesses and economic growth at the centre
• UK was the world’s 4th largest exporter in 2022, with British goods and services in high demand across the globe

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has announced the Government’s intention to deliver trade talks, starting with the Gulf Cooperation Council, India, Israel, South Korea, Switzerland and Turkey.

The Government is putting economic growth at the heart of everything it does to improve the livelihoods of hardworking British people.

Restarting talks is the first step towards agreeing the high-quality trade deals the UK needs to give businesses access to international markets, boost jobs and deliver that growth.

With exports totalling £855 billion, the UK was the world’s 4th largest exporter in 2022. High-quality British goods and services are admired globally and the Government is committed to using every lever available to help British businesses sell around the world.

FTAs are not the only tool to drive economic growth through trade. The Government also plans to publish a trade strategy which aligns with our industrial strategy, enhances our economic security and supports our net zero ambitions.

Through this trade strategy, resetting our relationship with the EU, supporting more small businesses to export and tearing down unnecessary barriers to trade, jobs and communities will be supported in every part of the UK.

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

Boosting trade abroad is essential to deliver a strong economy at home. That’s why I’ve wasted no time taking stock of progress and getting ready to press on with trade talks with our international partners.

From the Gulf to India, our trade programme is ambitious and plays to the UK’s strengths to give British businesses access to some of the most exciting economies in the world.

Our teams will be entering negotiating rooms as soon as possible, laser-focused on creating new opportunities for UK firms so they can support jobs across the country and deliver the growth we desperately need.

This announcement will kickstart the process of getting negotiators back into the room with counterparts as soon as possible, with the first round of trade talks under the new government expected to take place during the Autumn.

The UK’s trade programme aims to deliver deals that will benefit the UK economy and boost trade with some of the most dynamic economies in the world.

For example, a trade agreement with the Gulf Co-operation Council would be a substantial economic opportunity, with at least £19 billion total already invested in each other’s economies as of 2021. An agreement with the GCC could potentially boost this further, ensuring British companies can make the most of this booming market and British customers get even more choice.

India, with which the UK is negotiating a Free Trade Agreement and Bilateral Investment Treaty, is projected to be the world’s third largest economy by 2027. A trade deal would give UK businesses better access to its burgeoning market of middle-class consumers, projected to grow to over a quarter of a billion consumers by 2050.

It comes after the Foreign Secretary visited India this week to discuss economic and global security.

Chairman of Tata Sons Natarajan Chandrasekaran said:

I am delighted that the new government has moved so quickly to restart trade negotiations with India. As one of the largest international investors in the UK, the Tata Group supports any action that strengthens the British economy. And as two of the world’s greatest trading nations with deep historical ties, India and the UK should be close economic partners, to the benefit of the citizens and businesses of both countries.

CEO of KOC Holding AS Levent Çakıroğlu said:

I believe that the negotiations for a new FTA can foster greater competitiveness, offer business opportunities across various sectors, and will strengthen bilateral trade ties between our two countries.

In the upcoming negotiations, there is room for improvement for both economies in services and investment sectors, but I believe automotive and home appliances business will continue to form the backbone of the trade between Türkiye and the UK in the future.

CEO of Roche Thomas Schinecker said:

Roche welcomes the UK government’s decision to resume talks about a free trade agreement between the United Kingdom and Switzerland. Free trade is essential for economic growth and stability.

Head of Trade Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce William Bain said:

Businesses are eager to open the doors to closer trade links with our key partners and will welcome the government’s renewed commitment to seek free trade agreements.

Reaching new or upgraded deals could offer new opportunities for businesses, of all sizes, to grow and invest for the future, especially in sectors like spirits, business services, climate friendly technology and pharmaceuticals.

Director General of the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade Marco Forgione said:

The news that the Government has kicked off trade talks with these key economies so quickly is extremely positive. Making international trade easier and helping more UK businesses expand into international markets is central to getting growth into the economy.

We know there’s real business interest in making international trade easier and we stand ready to work with the Department to ensure businesses, particularly SMEs, are armed with the know-how to turn these opportunities into reality.

The Government is also committed to the CPTPP trading group, using our membership in the UK and her allies’ interests and ensuring businesses can take advantage of the deal when it enters into force.

Background

• Source for UK exports statistics: ONS UK trade, May 2024. Figures relate to the 12 months to May 2024.
• Source for world exports rankings: UNCTAD Goods and Services (BPM6) – Exports and imports of goods and services. Rankings relate to 2022.
• Source for UK-GCC FDI: ONS Foreign direct investment involving UK companies: 2021
• Source for growth in India’s economy: IMF World Economic Outlook, April 2024
• Source for middle class consumers: Global Trade Outlook – Department for Business & Trade, February 2023. Note: Middle class consumers are defined as having an annual income of at least $13,205 and are calculated by applying current income distributions to extrapolations of nominal GDP per capita, prices, and population.

The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 26 July 2024.

UK joins the first global digital trade agreement negotiated under the World Trade Organization.

• The UK and 90 other countries have negotiated a set of new rules designed to make global trade faster, fairer, cheaper and more secure
• Once in force the agreement will permanently ban customs duties on digital content, lower costs for UK businesses and help protect UK consumers from online fraud
• Global adoption of digital customs systems, processes and documents could significantly grow the UK economy

The UK has today [Friday 26 July] joined a groundbreaking agreement which is designed to grow the economy by boosting global digital trade.

After five years of negotiations, the UK and 90 other countries have finalised the E-Commerce Joint Initiative at the World Trade Organization (WTO), which will make trade faster, cheaper, fairer and more secure. It will help British businesses, workers and consumers seize the opportunities of global digital trade, which is estimated by the OECD to be worth around £4 trillion and growing.

Once implemented, the agreement will commit all participants to the digitalisation of customs documents and processes. This will in many cases end the need to print forms off and hand them over at customs – a slow, expensive and old-fashioned way of working.

The signatories to this agreement will also commit to recognising e-documents and e-signatures, reducing the need for businesses to physically sign contracts and post them around the world.

Global adoption of digital customs systems, processes and documents would increase UK GDP by up to £24.2 billion in 2023 UK GDP terms. Even partial adoption could represent a significant boost to UK GDP.

It also commits signatories to putting in place legal safeguards against online fraudsters and misleading claims about products.

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

We are proud to play our part in securing the first ever global digital trade agreement, cutting costs for business and delivering on this government’s ambition to deliver economic growth.

Britain is back and proudly playing her role as an outward looking trading nation. Global digital trade is already estimated by the OECD to be worth around £4 trillion and counting but no common set of global rules exist. This is a huge step forward in correcting that and ensuring British businesses feel the benefit.

Science Secretary Peter Kyle said:

This global agreement aims to help people use technology safely by protecting them from fraud, while driving economic growth through the digitalisation of trade so it’s faster and more secure.

We will leave no stone unturned in our work to share the benefits of technology and drive economic growth by working with partners around the world to achieve this.

For a UK financial services provider, doing business in any of the participating countries will require far fewer paper contracts and invoices, or manual signatures or authentication, as these will be replaced with their electronic equivalents.

Chris Southworth, Secretary General, International Chambers of Commerce UK said:

Businesses and economies thrive when there is one common set of rules. The E-Commerce Agreement is a major breakthrough and an excellent reminder of the power of international collaboration. It creates the environment we need to drive innovation as we transition away from archaic paper-based processes and into the modern world of data and technology.

It is an opportunity to accelerate efforts to digitalise our borders and global supply chains, and help to remove unnecessary friction and costs that prevent SMEs from trading. This is good news for business, consumers and the economy.

Matt Hammerstein, Head of Barclays UK Corporate Bank said:

As co-chair of the Trade Digitisation Taskforce with ICC United Kingdom, we have worked closely with the Government to support efforts to secure the competitiveness of UK exports, champion the digitalisation of trade at scale and continue to work on streamlining processes related to fraud and financial crime risk.

We welcome this announcement, which will help make the trade process easier for small, medium and large-sized businesses in the UK by removing paper-based barriers to trade. Barclays stands ready to play its part in supporting the success of British exports.

Reaching this agreement is part of the government’s commitment to rebuild and strengthen global partnerships and stand up for the rules-based international order. It is an important step in modernising the global trade rulebook and furthering cooperation in the World Trade Organization.

Not only will the E-Commerce Joint Initiative deliver new growth opportunities for the UK, it also recognises the importance of supporting developing and least-developed countries, to ensure growth and prosperity for all.

Attention now turns to working with WTO partners to incorporate the agreement into the WTO legal framework. Once incorporated, UK ratification will take place.

Notes to editors:

• The outcome of the E-Commerce Joint Initiative is officially called the ‘Agreement on Electronic Commerce’.
• Global digital trade is estimated by the OECD to be worth around $5 trillion in 2020. Converting this to sterling at the market exchange rate gives around £4 trillion. The OECD have defined this as all trade that is digitally-ordered or delivered.
• The ‘Benefits of the digitalisation of trade processes and cross border barriers to their adoption’ report estimates that global adoption of advanced digital trading systems and e-transactions for services is associated with a rise in UK GDP of up to 0.9% and 0.1 respectively.
• Applied to 2023 ONS UK GDP of £2,687 billion in current prices, a 0.1% increase would amount to £2.7 billion, and a 0.9% increase would amount to £24.2 billion.

The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 22 July 2024.

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has announced over £100 million of funding for cutting-edge aerospace research and development projects.

• £103 million government-industry funding for cutting-edge new green aerospace projects, supporting thousands of high-wage jobs across the UK.
• Funding delivered through Aerospace Technology Institute Programme to help pioneer groundbreaking new tech, including zero emission hydrogen flight and sustainable propulsion systems.
• Business and Trade Secretary announces funding at launch of the 2024 Farnborough Airshow, reinforcing government’s commitment to championing aerospace and advanced manufacturing in new Industrial Strategy.

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has today (22 July) announced over £100 million of government-industry funding for cutting-edge aerospace tech projects to support greener air travel, at the launch of the 2024 Farnborough Airshow.

It comes as the latest figures from the aerospace industry’s trade body ADS show the sector contributed £38 billion to the UK economy in 2023.

Just under £103 million of funding in total, delivered through the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) Programme, has been announced for five aerospace R&D projects led by GKN Aerospace, Queens University, Rolls-Royce, Short Brothers and ZeroAvia.

The projects will help pioneer innovations such as zero emission hydrogen-powered flight, new sustainable propulsion systems and turbine technologies, boosting thousands of high-skilled aerospace jobs across the UK and encouraging investment into the UK’s aerospace industry, as the Government prepares to launch its new Industrial Strategy.

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

Our world-class aerospace sector added almost £40 billion to the economy last year, and by backing it to pioneer cutting-edge new technologies we’re delivering economic growth and supporting high-skilled jobs in every part of the UK.

It’s fitting that I’m launching this new support here at Farnborough Airshow, where the best of British innovation is showcased on the global stage, reinforcing our commitment to placing innovation and manufacturing at the heart of our Industrial Strategy.

Aerospace Technology Institute CEO Gary Elliott said:

The ATI Programme is continuing to target investment in world-class research projects that will deliver benefit for UK aerospace: accelerating technology development, growing our manufacturing capability, strengthening our supply chain and ensuring that the sector continues to generate economic return to the UK.

The projects announced today focus on advanced technologies that take us a significant step closer to sustainable aviation, from new lightweight materials to new fuel systems. We look forward to building on this investment in support of an ambitious Industrial Strategy.

Rolls-Royce Director of Research and Technology Alan Newby said:

The HOTLINE project, together with other projects that have been supported by the ATI, will improve the cost competitiveness and product performance of our current and future engines, vital for meeting not only industrial and government Net Zero targets but potential growth opportunities for the UK.

Full details of ATI projects:

• The ATI Programme is a joint government and industry investment. Its purpose is to competitively offer funding for research and technology development in the UK, to maintain and grow the UK’s competitive position in civil aerospace and accelerate the transition to net zero aviation.
• The Department for Business and Trade has a dynamic approach to supporting the aerospace sector. Since 2013, government has co-invested with industry through the ATI Programme a total project cost of about £3.6 billion in total costs (grant and industry match funding). These projects have had 438 unique partners involved from across the UK, including 290 SMEs.
• The Hot Section Lifting and Materials (HOTLINE) project – led by Rolls Royce, with project partners Cranfield University and the University of Birmingham will develop turbine technologies that reduce unit and life cycle costs. Total Project cost of £20.5 million.
• Advanced Fuel Cell for Aviation Decarbonisation (AFCAD) – builds on ZeroAvia’s success with the Hyflyer I and II projects, to take the high temperature (HTPEM) fuel cell stacks technology to commercialisation stage, enabling zero emission hydrogen flight, with applications for rotorcraft and eVTOL. Total project cost of £17.5 million.
• Scenic Composites – By developing a variety of high value testing and manufacturing equipment at the Advanced manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC), this project led by Queens University Belfast will build capability in the aerospace cluster in the Belfast region around composite materials. Total project cost of £10.9 million.
• IVI – Spirit AeroSystems (Short Brothers) are leading this project with a key objective to produce lighter, more structurally efficient aerostructures with fewer parts, increasing fuel efficiency for a range of aircraft platforms, and enabling transition to new sustainable technologies. Total project cost of £10 million.
• H2FlyGHT – led by GKN Aerospace and a UK-based consortium of major aerospace suppliers and academic partners, including Parker-Meggitt Aerospace and the universities of Nottingham and Manchester aims to develop and test a fully integrated liquid hydrogen fuel system and 2 megawatt cryogenic electrical propulsion system for the next generation of zero emission aircraft. Total project cost of £44 million.

The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 18 July 2024.

On 10 July 2024, the UK and Japan hosted a hybrid seminar for Japanese women entrepreneurs, investors, and business owners seeking to increase trade and investment with the UK.

This continues an ongoing series of collaborative activities to uphold our commitments set out in the Women’s Economic Empowerment chapter of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). It supports the delivery of our joint recognition on the importance of sharing diverse experiences to reduce the systemic barriers faced by women seeking to trade internationally.

During the seminar, participants heard from UK and Japanese government and non-government led programmes and initiatives providing services for women in trade. This included the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Japan External Trade Organization, which shared valuable advice on the support available to female entrepreneurs.

Speakers from the Organisation of Women in International Trade, the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade and UK Business Angels Association, all provided insights into how women can effectively access finance, skills and information to successfully trade internationally.

The Department of Business and Trade was delighted to hear directly from Japanese female-led enterprises on their experiences entering the UK market. This included the CEO of datagusto, inc. the first Japanese female entrepreneur chosen by HMG for the Global Entrepreneur Programme.

Increasing women’s participation in the economy not only strengthens gender equality but holds huge potential in boosting economic growth. Trade can dramatically improve women’s lives, creating new jobs, enhancing consumer choices, and increasing women’s bargaining power in society. The UK has successfully included trade and gender equality provisions in FTAs including Japan, EEA/EFTA, Australia, and New Zealand. We will continue to proactively cooperate with our partners to break down barriers to trade for women.

In the lead up to the Osaka World Expo 2025, we look forward to future events that will continue our programme of engagement with Japan to strengthen trade and women’s economic empowerment. At the Expo, the UK will be looking to showcase its work on diversity and inclusion at the UK pavilion, including the work we are doing on gender equality and women’s economic empowerment.

For more information on the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership, please follow this link.

The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 16 July 2024.

The UK is back on the world stage and “open for business”, the new Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds will tell a meeting of G7 ministers and businesses today.

On his first international visit in the role, he will tell counterparts at the G7 Trade Ministerial Meeting in Italy that a new level-headed approach on the world stage will allow UK businesses to plan for sustained investment and economic growth over the next decade.

It’s part of the Government’s plan to create a pro-business environment that supports innovation, investment, and high-quality jobs at home. By resetting international relations and tearing down unnecessary barriers to trade, it will also unleash the potential of the great industries which make the UK stand out on the world stage: our excellent research institutions, professional services, advanced manufacturing, and creative industries.

Addressing G7 trade counterparts and business representatives from each country, the Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds will say:

In the UK, we now have a strong government with an even stronger mandate from the British people. One that respects, wants to partner with and is open for business.

My message to you today is simple – Britain is back. A confident, outward-looking, future-facing UK is ready and willing to play our part on the international stage.

We are seeking a closer, more mature, more level-headed relationship with our friends in the European Union – our nearest and largest trading partner, and we also intend to forge better trading relationships with countries around the world.

He will also set out how the UK intends to work with global partners to address some of the most pressing economic challenges ahead, adding:

We are not naïve about the scale of the challenges threatening global stability. Putin’s continued onslaught on Ukraine, disruption to supply chains in the Red Sea and superpowers like China using harmful policies and practises are distorting free, fair trade.

It’s why our Chancellor is pursuing a clear-eyed strategy of ‘securonomics’ – prioritising economic strength and resilience to increase market confidence and spur growth.

Governments cannot rely on the invisible hand of the market to do this for them. Fair, open markets with healthy competition can only be achieved through purposeful interaction between governments, business, and institutions like the G7.

It’s why the UK wants to work in partnership with you to increase supply chain resilience. Doing so gives businesses the confidence to invest and grow by planning not just for the next year but for the next decade.

The Business and Trade Secretary will use the visit to hold his first in-person meetings with his G7 counterparts since being appointed in his new role, including expected meetings with the Vice-President of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis and German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck.

These burgeoning relationships will also strengthen both global economic security and supply chain resilience, boosting confidence in domestic and global markets and ensuring that stability is shared by communities across the world.

The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 15 June 2024.

List of endorsed recipients includes current and former leaders of FTSE 100 companies.

• Post Office campaigner Alan Bates knighted for his twenty-year campaign for justice for postmasters
• FTSE executives also honoured for services to business and growing the UK economy
• Leading innovators and change makers are the theme of this year’s awards

Alan Bates, who led a 20-year campaign for justice for sub-postmasters affected by the Horizon IT scandal, has been made a Knight Bachelor (KT) as the King’s Birthday Honours are announced today.

Top business leaders, entrepreneurs and pioneers have also been recognised for their exceptional achievements and contributions to the UK economy.

This includes current and former leaders of FTSE 100 companies such as Unilever and Taylor Wimpey, the head of the London Stock Exchange and a series of other outstanding business leaders who have championed a wide range of sectors at home and overseas and been at the forefront of innovation and change.

Endorsed by the Department for Business and Trade, the list of recipients also includes several individuals who have faced adversity but who have used their experience to deliver significant community impact.

Alan Jope has received a CBE for services to business.

Alan was responsible for leading one of the world’s largest and geographically diverse companies with operations in 190 countries. He instigated important changes, simplifying Unilever’s legal structure, streamlining the company’s portfolio to focus on growth, and undertaking reform of the company’s operating model. His leadership was crucial to Unilever’s turnover exceeding £60b for the first time, up from £50b five years prior. Under his leadership, Unilever was the first major company to voluntarily put a Climate Transition Action Plan to a shareholder vote in 2021.

Alan Jope, Lately Chief Executive Officer of Unilever said:

It was an enormous privilege to lead Unilever as CEO for almost five years. I am extremely grateful for this recognition in His Royal Highness’s Birthday Honours list.

Jennifer Daly has received a CBE for services to Business and to the Housing Sector.

Jennie Daly is the first woman to lead a FTSE 100 housebuilding company in the UK, having been appointed in April 2022. She has built a successful career in the housebuilding sector, starting in the public sector in local authority planning roles before moving into the private sector. She is an active member of the industry federation, a non-executive director on the New Homes Quality Board and has also previously served as a Board member on a not-for-profit housing trust. She is also a strong advocate for women in the industry and has demonstrated exceptional leadership throughout her career.

Jennifer Daly, Chief Executive of Taylor Wimpey said:

I have a real passion for housebuilding and the social and economic benefits it brings to communities across the UK, and I am deeply honoured to have been recognised in the King’s Birthday list for services to business and the industry.

Julia Hoggett has received a DBE for services to business and to finance.

Julia has provided inspirational leadership in helping to restore the role of the UK capital markets and the London Stock Exchange as a major provider of capital to fund innovation, productivity, growth, jobs and to support investors’ returns. She set up and chairs the UK Capital Markets Industry Taskforce to support the modernisation of the UK capital markets.

She has also sought to ensure that the London Stock Exchange (LSE) remained strong through challenging times including during Covid and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. She has influenced quoted companies to embrace Net Zero targets and the wider Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) agenda and under her leadership the LSE is now the leading provider of green and transition finance. She is a pioneer for women and the LBGTQ+ community in financial services.

Julia Hoggett, Chief Executive Officer of the London Stock Exchange said:

I am deeply humbled to be included in His Majesty The King’s Birthday Honours List. Whilst I recognise that this is an individual honour, I feel it is very much for the team of people at the London Stock Exchange who do such remarkable work to support the companies, investors and intermediaries in our markets.

It is also a recognition of the even broader community, most notably my colleagues on the Capital Markets Industry Taskforce, who are so dedicated to the task of ensuring our capital markets truly serve all stakeholders up and down the UK. This honour inspires me to work even harder on this agenda.”

Lady Suzanne Heywood of Whitehall has received a CBE for services to business leadership.

Suzanne is the COO of Exor, a multi-billion dollar holding company, where she uses her knowledge and experience to build and grow great companies. Suzanne is also the Executive Chair of CNH and Iveco Group and a Non-Executive Director of Louboutin and The Economist. Lady Heywood established The Heywood Foundation in 2018, which she chairs in memory of her husband Lord Heywood of Whitehall.

The Foundation champions innovation in public policy and increasing diversity within the public sector and has recently launched the “Heywood Quarterly”, a new publication. Suzanne has written a best-selling biography of her late husband (What Does Jeremy think) and a best-selling account of her own childhood at sea (Wavewalker), which meant she was unable to have normal schooling.

Suzanne Heywood, Chief Operating Officer at Exor, Chair of CNH and Chair of Iveco said:

I am humbled to receive this, and grateful to my family and the many colleagues who have supported me throughout my career. It’s been a long journey – from a girl on a boat in the South Pacific with no education to here – and I owe a lot of thanks to those who made it possible.

Kenny Imafidon has received an MBE for services to the social and market research professions.

Kenny has overcome extreme challenges to co-found a thriving research and insights agency that counts Starbucks, Uber, the Houses of Parliament and UNICEF UK amongst its clients.

The agency, ClearView Research, specialises in research, strategy and engagement projects, focused on diverse and underrepresented communities. Prior to founding ClearView at 22, Kenny used his limited platform to initiate The Kenny Reports, a series of reports delivered to the House of Commons, to raise awareness and articulate the challenges young people and disadvantaged communities face today.

As Chair of the Board of Trustees of City Gateway, he was involved in the £1 million Skill Up Step Up campaign which benefited from funding from Barclays Life Skills.

Additionally, as a Trustee of BBC Children in Need, he was instrumental in bringing about the pledge of £10m funding over 10 years, and development of a new funding programme dedicated to supporting young Black talent to achieve their full potential in partnership with BBC Radio 1Xtra.

Kenny Imafidon, Co-founder of ClearView Research said:

I am grateful for the recognition of my services to the research industry. My journey began with The Kenny Reports at 18 years old, it then transitioned into the building of ClearView Research at 22, to where it is today.

I am proud that in just under a decade, ClearView has conducted hundreds of projects engaging diverse communities from all four corners of the UK; from Cornwall to Armagh; from Edinburgh to London whether online or offline; ClearView has amplified the voices of diverse and underrepresented communities in both social and market research.

Although I am personally being recognised, my success is a team effort, and would not have been possible without my amazing team members, co-founders, support system, mentors and those who have believed in me on this journey.

Full list of individuals endorsed in the 2024 Birthday Honours List by the Department for Business and Trade:

Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE)

Julia Hoggett, Chief Executive Officer, London Stock Exchange. For services to Business and to Finance

Knights Bachelor (KT)

Alan Bates, Founder, Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance. For services to Justice

Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

John Burns, Lately Chief Executive Officer and Chair, Derwent London plc. For services to Property, to Investment and to Development

Graham Chipchase, Chief Executive Officer, Brambles. For services to Sustainable Business

Jennifer Daly, Chief Executive, Taylor Wimpey. For services to Business and to the Housing Sector

Lady Suzanne Heywood of Whitehall, Chief Operating Officer, Exor, Chair, CNH and Chair, Iveco. For services to Business Leadership

Professor Michael Izza, Lately Chief Executive, Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. For services to Accounting, Audit and to Sustainability.

Alan Jope, Lately Chief Executive Officer, Unilever. For services to Business

Brian Kingham, Founder and Chairman, Reliance Security Group. For services to Business, to the Economy and Charity

Professor Elizabeth Varga, Director, Infrastructure Systems Institute. For services to Critical Infrastructure

Lesley Wild, Lately Chair, Bettys and Taylors. For services to Business and Trade

Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Christopher Berridge, Managing Director, Paneltex. For services to Business, to Exports and to the Environment

Alexandra Bolton, Director, Climate Governance Initiative. For services to the Built and Natural Environment

Elaine Clark, Chief Executive, Rail Forum. For services to the Rail Supply Industry

Jacqueline Gedman, Lately Chief Executive, Kirklees Council. For services to Business and to the community in Kirklees, West Yorkshire.

Michael Hawes, Chief Executive Officer, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. For services to the Automotive Industry

John Heffernan, Managing Director, Fern Innovation Ltd. For services to Business and to Technology

John Hill, Director, Technology and Strategy, The Welding Institute. For services to SMEs, to the Research Institutes Sector, to Local Economic Development and to Higher Education

Sharon Kemp, Chief Executive, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council. For services to Business and to the community in Rotherham, South Yorkshire

Lucy Lytle, Founder and Creative Director, Soane Britain Ltd. For services to British Manufacturing and Craftsmanship

Peter McCrea, Lately Chair, LionHeart RICS. For services to the Profession of Chartered Surveyors

Suzannah Nichol MBE, Chief Executive Officer, Build UK. For services to the Construction Industry

Professor Henry Overman, Professor of Economic Geography, London School of Economics and Director, What Works Centre. For services to Local Growth

John Stone, Entrepreneur. For services to Philanthropy

Subhash Thakrar, Lately Chair, London Chamber of Commerce. For services to British Trade and Investment in Africa

Kate Tinsley, Chief Executive, MKM Building Supplies. For services to the Construction Sector and to Diversity

Kimberly Wiehl, Board member, UK Export Finance. For services to Export Credit Finance and to International Trade

Carl Woollins, Managing Director UK and Ireland, Nippon Gases. For services to the Chemicals Industry

Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Andrew Beddows, Managing Director, Ideas Network UK Community Interest Company. For services to Innovation and Business

Victoria Brownlie, Chief, Policy, British Beauty Council. For services to the Hair and Beauty Industry

Emma Degg, Chief Executive, North West Business Leadership Team. For services to Business and to the community in North West England

Angela Farrugia, Founder and Group Managing Director, Brand X Society. For services to business and licensing

Warren Ginsberg, Chair, HiB Ltd. For services to the Home Improvement and Bathroom Industries

Steven Gould, Council Member, General Chiropractic Council. For services to Consumers

David Happy, Managing Director, Telint. For services to Telecommunications and to Technology

Jennifer Hartley, Director, Invest Newcastle and Head of Economic Development, Newcastle City Council. For services to Business and Trade

Kenny Imafidon, Co-Founder, ClearView Research. For services to the Social and Market Research Professions

Dean Jackson, Managing Director, HUUB Ltd. For services to Business and to Innovation

Samantha Mackintosh (Claire Cullens), Chief Executive Officer, Norfolk Community Foundation. For services to Business Development and to Charity

Victoria Moorby, Head, Marketing, Oxley Group. For services to the Defence and Aerospace Industry

Susan Nicholls, Lately Chief Executive Officer, Citizens Advice Staffordshire South-West. For services to the community in Staffordshire

Maria Sarkar, Co-Founder and Vice-President of DriveWorks. For services to Manufacturing

Helen Tonks, Founder and Director, Hydraulics Online Ltd. For services to Business and to Exports

Harold Wilson, Owner and Group Chair, UK Docks Marine Services. For services to the Marine Engineering Industry

Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)

Sally Bourton, Postmistress. For services to the community in Trewoon, Cornwall

Sellathurai Chandrakumar, Postmaster. For services to the community in Notting Hill, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

Geppino Dammone, Director, Salvo’s Restaurant, Leeds. For services to Hospitality

Gianfranco Dammone, Managing Director, Salvo’s Restaurant, Leeds. For services to Hospitality

Maureen Rickard, Lately Postmistress, St Minver Post Office. For services to the community in St. Minver, Cornwall

Matthew Tyrrell, Postmaster. For services to the community in Penllergaer, West Glamorgan

Staff from the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) recognised in the 2024 Birthday Honours List include:

Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Dr Barry Blackwell, Head, UK Building Information Modelling and National Digital Twin Programmes, Department for Business and Trade.

Dr Joanne Bray, Deputy Director, Automotive Unit, Department for Business and Trade.

Kate Davies, Deputy Director, Security and Business Continuity, Department for Business and Trade.

Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Richard Boyd, Senior Policy Advisor, Department for Business and Trade.

The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 24 May 2024.

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act has become law after receiving Royal Assent.

• The Act will give the UK’s competition regulator tools to stop technology businesses with strategic power from misusing their position to disadvantage competitors and consumers.
• The law will also create penalties for traders that break consumer protection law and allowing the Competition and Markets Authority to enforce consumer law directly.
• Under the rules, it will be easier for consumers to manage subscriptions by providing clearer pricing, banning fake reviews, and giving consumers greater control over what they are purchasing online.

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act has become law after receiving Royal Assent.

The Act paves the way to give consumers rights across the UK, with greater control and clarity over online purchases.

It does this by requiring businesses to provide clearer information to consumers before they enter a subscription contract, remind consumers that their free trial or low-cost trial is coming to an end, and ensure consumers can easily exit a contract.

Unavoidable hidden fees will also need to be included in the initial cost or clearly illustrated at the start of the purchasing journey. This will ensure consumers are clear from the offset about what they’re spending.

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act will also give new tools to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to address the challenges to competition in digital markets.

These tools will allow the competition regulator to set tailored ‘conduct requirements’ which require a powerful tech company to change the way it operates if it is not treating users fairly. These rules could give consumers the room to freely choose the services they use, or stop companies from withholding information consumers need to make good decisions.

The Act also gives the regulator powers to intervene and direct a firm to change its behaviour to boost competition – whether that is to benefit people using smartphones or businesses dependent on cloud services.

The Act will also give new powers to the CMA to closely monitor road fuel prices and report any sign of malpractice to the government.

Only a handful of the most powerful global technology companies will be subject to these new rules if, following an investigation, they are deemed to hold ‘strategic market status’.

If companies fail to comply with decisions made by the CMA, they could be subject to fines reaching tens of billions of pounds. These fines and other measures will be balanced by rigorous checks and balances.

The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 7 May 2024.

The first working group meeting under the UK-Florida MoU on trade and economic co-operation was held in Tallahassee, FL.

On Tuesday 30 April 2024, representatives of the UK and state of Florida Governments attended the inaugural government-to-government working group meeting created under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on trade and economic co-operation in Tallahassee.

Rufus Drabble, His Majesty’s Consul General in Miami, co-chaired the meeting with Alex Kelly, Secretary of the Florida Department of Commerce.

Consul General Rufus Drabble said:

Our discussions were focused and constructive and demonstrate our strong shared commitment to the strategic UK-FL partnership.

We have an ambitious pipeline for the next 12 months and I look forward to collaborating with the State to leverage the MoU to open all doors to further expand our trade and investment.

Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly said:

While this meeting is the first official meeting of its kind, Florida has already hit the ground running with the UK since the MOU was signed in November 2023.

The actionable and impactful collaboration between Florida and the UK is one that will strengthen both of our economies for generations to come.

Attendees met to coordinate the implementation of the MoU and discussed opportunities for increasing bilateral trade and an exchange of best practices in life sciences, space and fintech. Attendees also explored opportunities to progress recognition of professional qualifications and encourage private sector participation in government procurement markets, with further activity planned for 2024. The UK is currently the top foreign investor in Florida and the state supplies the UK with a wide range of products including aviation and aerospace products.

The MoU is the first the UK has signed which focuses on the aerospace sector. Florida is home to the NASA Kennedy Space Center, as well as the new STARCOM headquarters in Patrick Space Force Base opening at the end of 2024, and has world-leading capabilities in launch infrastructure, manufacturing, and satellite development, presenting huge opportunities for the UK’s growing space industry. In 2023, income from the sector was worth over £17.5 billion and employing nearly 50,000 people.

The UK and Florida agreed next steps for MoU implementation, including the following:

Life Sciences: 2024 will see the launch of the UK-Florida Life Sciences Trade Corridor where 30 UK companies will participate in a four-city roadshow in Florida’s key Life Sciences and Innovation clusters.

Space: DBT will organise a delegation of UK Space companies to Florida for the end of 2024 and will be supporting Florida’s participation at the Farnborough Air Show in July.

Fintech: The UK will promote Florida as a key “market entry point” for Fintech companies seeking to enter US and Latin American markets, and will coordinate several trade delegations for 2024 aimed at exploring new business opportunities across the state, including opportunities around insurance.

Trade Policy: Policy leads will hold further discussions on mutual recognition of professional qualifications on architecture and engineering, in the context of wider mutual recognition agreements between UK and US bodies. They will also continue cooperation between the UK Government and the Florida Department of Management Services (DMS) on access to government procurement markets, including participation by DMS in an explanatory webinar for interested UK vendors.

The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 23 April 2024.

The Department for Business and Trade has announced the 10 SME winners of the 2024 Made in the UK, Sold to the World Awards.

• Ten SMEs announced as winners of the 2024 Made in the UK, Sold to the World Awards.
• Now in their second year, the awards celebrate outstanding small businesses achieving exporting success, as new figures show UK was world’s 4th largest exporter of goods and services in 2022.
• Winners include SMEs operating across the UK, such as Warner’s Distillery, Munro Vehicles and CIGA Healthcare.

A family-owned craft drinks B-Corp, an electric vehicle company and a rapid diagnostic tests specialist are among the 2024 winners of the Department for Business and Trade’s Made in the UK, Sold to the World Awards announced today.

Now in their second year, the awards celebrate the international sales success of small-medium businesses across the UK and provide a stepping stone for further growth and opportunity.

Winners include Warners Distillery, an independent, family-owned craft drinks producer that creates 100 percent natural, sustainably sourced products crafted from ingredients grown on its farm in Northamptonshire.

Awarded in the Agriculture, Food and Drink category, the B Corp accredited business’s range of spirits and non-alcoholic drinks are listed in major UK retailers and sold in over 30 countries, including the United States, Australia, China, and nations across mainland Europe.

The awards come after new figures from the UN’s body that leads on global trade show the UK was the 4th largest exporter of goods and services globally in 2022, moving up from 7th in the rankings in 2021.

For businesses looking to find out more about how to start selling internationally or to expand their international footprint, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has a wide range of free guidance, services and experts available to help unlock new opportunities and grow their sales at GREAT.gov.uk.

Minister for Exports Lord Offord said:

We’re proud of our British exporters and these Awards highlight some fantastic businesses punching above their weight and selling UK-made products and services around the world.

I hope the winners serve as inspiration to others looking to get onto the exporting ladder and encourage more businesses to showcase the incredible talent and innovation of UK businesses selling abroad.

Cabinet Office Minister Ester McVey said:

Selling overseas is key to driving economic growth across the UK. As part of the GREAT campaign, it’s wonderful to celebrate these businesses who showcase the best of what Britain and Northern Ireland have to offer the world.

The winning businesses have been drawn from a diverse range of 12 sectors across 10 categories: Agriculture, Food and Drink; Creative Industries; Education & EdTech; Financial Services and FinTech; Retail & Consumer Goods; Consultancy & Professional Services; Healthcare; Infrastructure & Engineering; Low Carbon Energy; and Manufacturing, Advanced Manufacturing & Construction.

In the Low Carbon Energy category, Glasgow-based Munro Vehicles was recognised for its next-generation, fully electric commercial vehicles that are designed to help essential but carbon-intensive industries transition to net zero. The company, which exported to 16 countries in 2023, plans to move to a new purpose-built site near Glasgow later in the year, creating up to 300 jobs.

The Healthcare winners are pioneers CIGA Healthcare, a leading UK company specialising in rapid diagnostic tests including fertility tests, blood pressure monitors and blood glucose monitors. CIGA Healthcare’s products are supplied to national health services and international brands, such as Walmart and AmerisourceBergen, and the company’s international reach extends to over 80 countries, including the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Australia, Canada, and nations across South America.

Within each category, three additional businesses were also awarded highly commended status for their inspiring business stories and exporting prowess.

Marco Forgione, Director General of The Institute of Export & International Trade (IOE&IT) and judge on the panel for this year’s awards, commented:

The calibre of businesses that entered across all categories has been incredibly high and selecting a winner has been a tough job. We are delighted to offer an IOE&IT membership to these winners alongside the businesses that are highly commended and look forward to working with this year’s companies, helping them to grow and expand through international trade.

These awards provide an important opportunity to recognise and celebrate the global trade success stories of small businesses from all Nations and regions – and we hope these winners will inspire even more budding business owners.

The evidence continues to tell us that businesses that trade internationally are more sustainable, more resilient, more innovative, employ more people and, ultimately, are more profitable. So, it is vital that these businesses are supported in their exporting journeys and that their success stories are celebrated.

In 2021, DBT launched the ‘Made in the UK, Sold to the World’ campaign to celebrate exporting success from across the UK and tell businesses’ stories. The awards programme builds on this to further recognise and celebrate the global trading success of SMEs from across the UK.

Winning businesses receive an invitation to an evening Parliamentary Reception and receive a year’s free membership with the Institute of Export and International Trade (IOE&IT). They will also win a digital badge, physical certificate and trophy and enjoy promotional activity across DBT channels, including individual profiles to share their export success.

This year’s winners include:

Agriculture, Food and Drink – Warner’s Distillery

Warner’s Distillery is the world’s leading premium farm-born spirits gin producer.  Created and run by Tom & Tina Warner, Warner’s Distillery sits in the rolling hills of Northamptonshire. Since launching in 2012, Tom & Tina have built an expert team, producing unique spirits, elegantly crafted from ingredients grown on the farm such as elderflower, angelica, verbena and lavender. They became B Corp accredited in Summer 2022.

Creative Industries – Media Bodies

Media Bodies is a Performance Influencer Marketing Agency focusing on YouTube, Podcast, TikTok, Instagram, Twitch, and Experiential Marketing. Having started with a focus on the gaming industry, Media Bodies now works across industries including tech, retail, ecommerce, beauty, fashion, wellness, and more. Media Bodies’ client roster is in close to 20 countries around the world.

Education & EdTech – SimVenture

Used by education institutions and workplace training providers in over 20 countries, SimVenture digital software products enable educators and trainers to bring business learning to life. By providing business and entrepreneurship learning tools, learners are able to make decisions, deal with consequences, and work in a highly engaging and authentic way.

Financial Services and FinTech – Mosaic Smart Data

Mosaic Smart Data is a data analytics software company providing solutions to the global financial services industry. Its product uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to help its customers better understand and service their own customers.  The business model is primarily a SaaS subscription software license model, where customers are offered a cloud-hosted, fully managed solution. Exports have been central to Mosaic’s growth. The company has customers on every continent and over 70 percent of its paying customers are international, generating approximately 70 percent of total revenue.

Retail & Consumer Goods – PG Paper Company Ltd

PG Paper is a global, award-winning pulp, paper and board company that creates markets and solutions to enable trade for paper and packaging products worldwide. It has experienced exponential growth and is now one of Scotland’s largest trading companies, operating in over 60 countries with multiple global offices.

Consultancy & Professional Services – Intralink Ltd

Intralink is an international business development consultancy. It helps companies to expand in Asia, Europe and North America, corporates to innovate through global collaboration, and governments to grow their exports and attract foreign investment. Intralink has 120 employees across 15 offices, with 23 in the UK. Over its 34-year history, it has helped more than 1,500 companies secure deals worth around £600 million.

Healthcare – CIGA Healthcare

CIGA Healthcare Ltd operates in the International Rapid Test Diagnostic sector, including both electronic equipment and reagent tests. It supplies both the professional and consumer markets in its SURESIGN brand as well as in customer “own label” brands. It supplies national health services and international brands, such as Walmart and Walgreens.

Infrastructure & Engineering – Autoflame Engineering

Autoflame Engineering manufactures industry-leading commercial and industrial combustion management and monitoring solutions. It empowers its customers to reduce their fuel and maintenance costs, substantially lower emissions and remain compliant with environmental regulations.  Autoflame Engineering is family-owned and distributes through a network of 110+ Technology Centres around the world.  It boasts an impressive 46 patents.

Low Carbon Energy – Munro Vehicles

Munro Vehicles, based in Glasgow, is a designer and manufacturer of fully electric commercial vehicles, exporting to Europe. Their mission is to develop and deliver next-generation zero-emission vehicles that help essential but carbon-intensive industries transition to net zero.

Manufacturing, Advanced Manufacturing and Construction – IceMos Technology

IceMOS Technology is a privately held semiconductor technology corporation and manufacturer of a new class of MEMS based power and sensing advanced semiconductor technologies. This serves wide-ranging applications anywhere that power efficiency and sensing matters. The company has a manufacturing centre of excellence located in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

This year’s highly commended businesses include:

Agriculture, Food and Drink

Highly Commended: Doughlicious – The London Dough Co.

Doughlicious is a “Better for You” cookie dough platform. The Doughlicious brand is present in the frozen, chilled and ambient categories throughout retailers and food service. All its cookie dough is gluten-free and manufactured in our its factory in London, which runs on renewable electricity. The product lines consist of ready-to-bake cookie dough, cookie dough and gelato bites and baked ready-to-eat cookies.

Highly Commended: LoveRaw

LoveRaw is the plant-based chocolate brand; free from palm oil and artificial ingredients, creating indulgent vegan versions of the nation’s favourite chocolate bars. Husband-and-wife team Rimi and Manav Thapar launched LoveRaw, a B-Corp Certified business, in 2013.

Highly Commended: Wootzano

Wootzano is a British state-of-the-art robotics company based in Sedgefield, northeast of England. Their highly dexterous robotic system, Avaraia, is crafted to meet the needs of the post-harvest industry by supplementing a struggling workforce in the packing of delicate, soft produce.

Creative Industries

Highly Commended:  Sixteen South

Sixteen South is focussed on the creation of the highest quality television for kids in every country across the world.   Sixteen South creates, produces and distributes its own unique and original content from their studios with the ambition that they’re seen by every child in every home in every country across the world.  Their shows air on the leading networks and broadcasters in over 160 countries across the globe.

Highly Commended: Katapult

Katapult is an award-winning themed attractions and experiences design company that amaze and engage visitors globally. Its work is enjoyed by 95 million visitors, at 120 attractions, in 26 different countries, every year. It works alongside the biggest names in the leisure industry to create theme parks, themed resorts, experience and visitor attractions, including The LEGO Group, Merlin Entertainments, Warner Bros Discovery, Ferrari and many more. Katapult is a B-Corp certified business.

Highly Commended: Wales Interactive

Wales Interactive is a multi-award-winning indie video games and interactive movie developer, publisher and investor. As well as creating our own in-house titles, we have evolved into a publishing label collaborating with some of the most talented game developers and film makers across the globe to help bring their original creations to gaming platforms.

Education & EdTech

Highly Commended: TransformELT Ltd

TransformELT is an English Language Teaching consultancy enabling individuals, institutions and education systems to define, design and meet their development goals by building progressive strategies for change.  Launched in 2017, TransformELT has taken part in a succession of high-profile projects in 44 countries.

Highly Commended: International Dyslexia Learnings Solutions Ltd

International Dyslexia Learning Solutions provides specialist multi-sensory software to schools in the UK and around the world. Our goal is to provide learning support to those most in need and our software is used by thousands of learners across the globe.   IDL Literacy dramatically increases reading and spelling ages for those with dyslexia or low literacy ability.

Highly Commended: Learning with Experts

Learning with Experts is an online learning platform, uniting enthusiastic learners with leading experts in diverse subjects like gardening, photography, and Food. The courses are enriched through partnerships with the Royal Horticultural Society and River Cottage, and focus on interactive, community-centric education.

Financial Services and FinTech

Highly Commended: Exus

EXUS helps Financial Institutions and Utilities improve their debt collection results through state-of-the-art technology. EFS (EXUS Financial Suite) is the main product offered and this is a comprehensive suite of software products that manage credit risk along the whole lifecycle of accounts.

Highly Commended:  Tapoly

Tapoly is an award-winning Insurtech providing business insurance for SMEs and freelancers. Winner of Technological Development at the European Business Awards 2021 and Insurance Broker of the Year at the British Business Awards 2023, Tapoly provides a comprehensive list of insurance products to cater for businesses of all sizes, including the gig economy.

Highly Commended: Konsentus

Konsentus provides specialist advisory services and technology solutions to support the national implementation of open finance ecosystems. Subject matter experts, Konsentus advisors have a proven track record in navigating complex, multi-stakeholder ecosystems and understanding individual regulatory and market requirements. Konsentus’ award-winning technology powers national open finance infrastructures. Modular and scalable by design, our trust infrastructure solutions are tailored to individual market requirements, enabling ecosystem participants to seamlessly identify each other and interact within a safe and trusted environment.  Founded in 2018, Konsentus is active across 37 markets and counts many of the largest global financial institutions as clients.

Retail & Consumer Goods

Highly Commended: Katy Sue Designs

Katy Sue Designs is an award-winning British company specialising in crafting innovative food safe silicone moulds and unique paper craft products. Proudly manufacturing in the UK, Katy Sue Designs brings an exceptional range of die-cut, foiled paper crafts, stickers, and more.

Highly Commended: Urban Apothecary London Limited

Urban Apothecary London started life at the kitchen table in 2012 as founder and perfumer-alchemist Tajinder Banwait MBE sat surrounded by aromatic botanicals spilling from beautiful bottles and her notebook of scent stories. This modern apothecary British brand is fuelled by a passion for blending flowers, fruits, resins and woods in unconventional, contemporary ways.

Highly Commended: Captain Fawcett Ltd

Founded in 2010 by Richard Finney, Captain Fawcett Ltd is an international lifestyle brand specialising in First Class Gentlemans Grooming Requisites. The company was established after Richards Moustache Wax, initially crafted for personal use, won acclaim among film industry professionals.

Consultancy & Professional Services

Highly Commended: Luminance

Built on a proprietary legal Large Language Model (LLM), Luminance’s specialised legal co-pilot uses next-generation AI to automate the generation, negotiation and analysis of contracts. Developed by world-leading AI experts, validated by leading lawyers, and in use by over 600 customers in 70 countries, Luminance’s ‘legal-grade’ AI is a key component of any legal team.

Highly Commended: People 1st International

People 1st International partners with industry, development banks, government agencies, NGOs and education providers to create sustainable approaches to workforce development. Providing consultancy, research and training solutions globally, it develops skilled, productive and inclusive workforces to help drive social and economic growth.

Highly Commended: EECO2

EECO2 works with global life science organisations – empowering them to reach their decarbonisation targets ahead of promised deadlines through proven energy efficiency and sustainability initiatives. It works across the globe with the smallest and largest pharma organisations to decarbonise their operations.

Healthcare

Highly Commended: Dulas Ltd

For over 40 years, Dulas has been a pioneer in renewable energy. Its mission is to develop and implement renewable energy solutions that improve lives, help to combat climate change, and support communities in the most rural parts of the world.

Highly Commended: Chemian Technology

Chemian Technology Limited (CTL) has developed, patented and now makes almost all its income from a naturally derived, but highly effective insect repellent active substance, that it supplies to producers of consumer insect repellent brands under its general Trade Name of Citrepel.

Highly Commended: Evenly Ltd

Evenly Bra Balancers are for all those with uneven breasts, no matter what the cause. Breast asymmetry, where there is a noticeable difference in the size of the breasts, affects up to 90% of women. Multiple studies have shown the damaging effects this can have on a woman’s self-esteem, mental health, physical comfort and quality of life and researchers repeatedly stress that this is more than just a cosmetic issue. Evenly’s silicone breast forms offer a non-surgical, affordable and natural-looking solution.

Infrastructure & Engineering

Highly Commended: Inciner8

Inciner8 manufactures cutting-edge incinerators for diverse customers and applications in more than 180 countries. Inciner8 has been built on one simple principle: well-designed incinerators, suitable for installation anywhere, providing a safe, environmentally responsible, and convenient form of waste disposal.

Highly Commended: Xrail Group Ltd

Xrail is an international rail engineering solutions provider delivering turnkey multi-disciplinary signalling, telecommunications, overhead line (OLE) and trackside civils engineering services.

Highly Commended: Belzona Ltd

Belzona designs and manufactures polymeric repair and protection materials for industry. Across its 72-year history, the Business has engineered an extensive portfolio of solutions that prolong the asset-life in an ever-growing number of industries, thereby reducing the need for replacement. This mitigates not just the financial costs of replacing equipment, but also the harmful environmental consequences.

Low Carbon Energy – Munro Vehicles

Highly Commended: Silverstream Technologies

Silverstream Technologies is a market-leading maritime clean technology company specialising in hull air lubrication. The company is headquartered in London with offices in Shanghai. The Silverstream® System reduces frictional resistance between the water and the ship’s hull, reducing average net fuel consumption and GHG emissions. They export to all corners of the world including Japan, China, Dubai and Europe.

Highly Commended: Rosehill Polymers Group

Based in Sowerby Bridge, Rosehill Polymers Group specialises in creating innovative infrastructure products from recycled tyre rubber. Rosehill has a global reach and export their products to over 40 countries.

Highly Commended: Clearly

Together Global Ltd. (trading as Clearly) is a data-driven mobility emissions platform which offers net-zero solutions for decarbonising road transportation. It integrates diverse data sources, like vehicle/GPS data, operations/shipments data, fuel & energy data, financial data, and sustainability regulations, to provide a unified view and calculates accurate fleet emission/energy intensity. They currently export to US, Norway and Thailand.

Manufacturing, Advanced Manufacturing and Construction

Highly Commended: I Holland Ltd

I Holland has been specialising in superior quality punches and dies for the pharmaceutical industry for over 75 years, making us the longest established tool manufacturer in the world.

Highly Commended:  Vikoma International Limited

Vikoma designs and manufactures oil-spill response, industrial clean up and environmental protection equipment, with a reputation for innovation, quality and reliability.  The company provides products and services to various industries and has solutions for all scenarios; offshore oil & gas, ports and harbours, shoreline, refinery & petrochemical and onshore.

Highly Commended:  Silson Ltd

Silson is a manufacturer of ultra-thin films, specialising in silicon nitride, silicon carbide and silicon membranes, as well as more advanced, customer-specified products. Our products are used during scientific research experiments and often in equipment on beam-lines.