HRH the Duke of Kent – the patron of the Institute of Export patron – glowingly praised the success of UK companies making waves in international trade at the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise gala dinner.

This year the Institute’s Director General Lesley Batchelor was invited to be on the judging panel in the International Trade category of the awards where 151 companies have been recognised out of a total of 209 recipients for their tremendous achievements.

Organised and hosted by the Institute, the packed gala dinner at London’s Radisson Blu hotel went down a treat with attendees who welcomed the opportunity to network and share best practice. HRH the Duke of Kent congratulated and spent time meeting representatives of award winning companies. The Duke also gave a speech to the audience, expressing his pride in Britain’s exporting talent.

Additional highlights saw the Institute’s chair, Doug Tweddle CBE, present a special award to Rami Ranger, Managing Director of Sun Mark for its milestone achievement in being the only company to win a Queen’s Award for four consecutive years. The Middlesex based business supplies and exports food stuffs for major British and international companies as well as producing its own range of quality products.

Keynote speaker was Richard Noble OBE, holder of the current land-speed record who succeeded against all the odds when his Thrust Supersonic Car went supersonic.

A specialist in developing high risk ventures, Richard outlined his latest trailblazing venture entitled Bloodhound Programme to generate an all British programme to break the 1000mph land-speed record again by engaging with the next generation of scientists, engineers and mathematicians.  The self-funding programme entails Richard working with schools and sparking pupils’ interest in harnessing key skills to progress long term careers in key disciplines.