Three Essex businesses have won Royal recognition in the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise 2022.

The companies, from Leigh-on-Sea, Harlow and Stansted, were among 23 winners from the Eastern region to win the most prestigious award for UK business, designed to recognise and encourage outstanding achievements.

The companies are diverse, covering driving safety for individuals with a learning disability, international supply chain and logistics management and industrial spray drying equipment and solutions.

Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst, Essex Lord-Lieutenant, said: “The Queen’s Award is a royal seal of approval for the UK’s most outstanding businesses. 

“They are the most prestigious awards for UK businesses, and it is a proud moment for Essex that five of our exceptional businesses have been recognised in this way.”

In 2019 Mrs Tolhurst launched an initiative to promote the awards to Essex businesses. The awards are open to businesses with more than two full-time employees. Most winning companies have fewer than 250 employees.

There are four entry categories: international trade, innovation, sustainable development and promoting opportunity through social mobility. The award is valid for five years and benefits include national and global recognition, marketing opportunities. added commercial value and increased trade, a boost to staff morale and use of the award emblem on stationery, website and advertising.

Essex winners 2022:

Innovation : Drivershields UK Ltd, Leigh-on-Sea
International Trade : ESDT Operations Ltd, Harlow 
International Trade : Kestrel Liner Agencies Ltd, Stansted

About the Winners:

• Drivershields UK Limited  www.drivershields.co.uk
  Established in 2003, Drivershields UK Limited’s innovation is a solution that addresses concerns for the safety of an individual with learning disability as a passenger in a vehicle and that of the driver. The company recognised that a driver can be at risk of physical harm or distraction while driving with a passenger that becomes agitated.  To remove this risk, they developed a unique structure that fits to the front seats of any make / model of vehicle with features for complete adjustability. Shields are moulded (vacuum formed) from 6mm tough clear plastic sheet with separate moulds for driver and passenger seats. Shields fit over and around the driver and front seat passenger, overlapping between the front seats to prevent access through the middle. The design is the subject to the grant of a patent and was developed in conjunction with major national care organisations.
• ESDT Operations Ltd  www.spray-dryer.com
  Established in 2015 and based in Harlow, ESDT Operations Ltd is a privately owned business which specialises in the design, manufacture and supply of industrial spray drying equipment and solutions for use in the food, dairy, chemical, pharmaceutical and recycling industries globally.  It is the UK’s premier supplier of spray drying systems with an extensive range of plant and equipment for powder production. The company’s services to the client includes sales, design, project management, installation supervision, operator training and commissioning. Overseas sales have grown over three years by 385% and now account for 93% of total sales. The company operates across Europe, USA, Far East, Middle East and Australia. 93% of its overseas business is with the USA and its other top markets are Bahrain, Ukraine and Vietnam.  The company wins the Queen’s Award for International Trade for Outstanding Short Term Growth in overseas sales over the last three years.
• Kestrel Liner Agencies Ltd  www.kestrel.com
  Established in 1994, with HQ in Stansted, Kestrel Liner Agencies Ltd won Queen’s Award for International Trade in 2010 and 2018. The company provides supply chain and logistics management globally offering all types of freight and shipment combinations. It works in niche markets acting as a Liner Agent representing shipping lines which call into certain areas, for example around the Caribbean islands, by booking global cargo that meets up with the Lines vessels in Miami or the Dominican Republic to deliver around the Caribbean. With new Lines being brought on board such as the giant car carriers from Japan, the company expands its areas of business for all cargo types. Its business is 100% international and overseas sales have grown over three years by 50%. It has management offices in the USA, Hong Kong, South Africa, Namibia, St Vincent & The Grenadines, Barbados, Trinidad, Jamaica and Guyana and Agency offices globally. Wins the Queen’s Award for International Trade for Outstanding short term growth.

For more information see:
Queen’s Awards for Enterprise awardees are officially announced in The Gazette every April. Full details of QAE winners are available on The Gazette website here >
Website: www.gov.uk/queens-awards-for-enterprise
Queen’s Awards Office on: 0207 215 6880
Email: queensawards@beis.gov.uk
Twitter @TheQueensAwards