Queen’s Award for Enterprise 2022 Shropshire winners

HM Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire, Mrs Anna Turner, is thrilled to congratulate the four Shropshire based companies that have been successful in being awarded a Queen’s Award for Enterprise (QAE) 2022.

Mrs Turner said that the winners demonstrated yet again that Shropshire is home to so many innovative businesses and organisations and we celebrate with them their success in acheiving this most prestigious business award.

The QAE competition was instituted by Royal Warrant in 1965 with the first awards being made in 1966 under the original title Queen’s Award to Industry. The awards have been known as the Queen’s Award for Enterprise since 1999.

Winners of a Queen’s Award for Enterprise receive an invitation to a Royal reception, a special crystal trophy presented by the Lord-Lieutenant, the right to fly the award flag at their headquarters and use the QAE logo in their marketing for five years as well as worldwide recognition as a winner.

There are four categories in the competition: International Trade, Innovation, Sustainable Development and Promoting Opportunity (through Social Mobility).

This year’s Shropshire winners are in the categories of Innovation, International Trade and Promoting Opportunity.

I2r Packaging has been awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise: Innovation – which follows on from their success in 2020 in being awarded a Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade. I2r Packaging are based in Telford and are a market leading aluminium foil tray manufacturer. They were established in 2007 as an environmentally responsible packaging company and have focussed on delivering new ‘eye-opening’ product ranges, diversifying into new geographical regions and market sectors, championing engineering innovation.

Stallion AI has been awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise: Innovation. Based in Whitchurch and having been in operation for over 18 years Stallion AI use the latest technology in their laboratory to offer a wide range of services including semen freezing and storage, fertility testing, fresh and chilled semen distribution, mare insemination centre, training courses and AI equipment. Stallion AI are also behind creation of Nature’s SAFE, a Living Biobank

Nature’s SAFE is one of Europe’s dedicated facilities capable of the long-term storage of live cells from animal species that are at the greatest risk of extinction. Working with leading reproductive scientists and cryobiologists, they use state-of-the-art methods to preserve cells in a way that maintains viability, allowing them to be thawed and used to establish pregnancies, restoring endangered animal species.Nature’s SAFE, through its Living Biobank, is on a mission to safeguard these endangered animal populations for future generations and to realise our vision of a healthy planet. 

Jesmonite Ltd has been awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade. Based in Bishop’s Castle. Established in 1984 Jesmonite provides innovative solutions for architects, manufacturers and the creative arts sector. Jesmonite is a two-part system product that when mixed together ca n be used to create laminated structures or cast pieces. Their products are used around the world and can be seen in the King Saud Mosque in Riyadh, at Westfield Whitford City in Australia, in art installations such as Fons Americanus, which was exhibited at the Tate Modern in 2019, and on cruise ships such as Saga Cruises’ The Spirit of Discovery.

Derwen College and Derwen College Charity have been awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise: Promoting Opportunity. Based just outside Oswestry Derwen College is a specialist college for young adults with special educational needs and disabilities. They provide inspirational learning, development and care to enable their students to transform their lives. Derwen College has developed a range of opportunities for their students to learn real life skills offering a range of outlets including their Garden Centre and Gift Shop, the Walled Garden Café, The Orangery Restaurant and The Vintage Advantage, Derwen College’s on site charity shop. All these venues provide work experience and opportunities for their students. Derwen College has sites in Gobowen, Ludlow, Telford and Walford.