Queen's Award Focus: Ultimotive

Wed 12 Jun 2019
Posted by: Sam Pileggi
Features

Nigel Mansell with Andy Smith

Racing Legend, Nigel Mansell, praises Ultimotive of Colchester on winning the Queen's Award for International Trade.

Ultimotive develops, manufactures, markets and supplies innovative chemical cleaning products for the global automotive industry.  Founded in 2003 by Managing Director Andy Smith, the company supplies major brands under licence including Williams F1, MotoGP, Michelin, Turtle Wax Pro, Stayzon and its own label Caiman.

Nigel Mansell, CBE (Winner Formula One World Championship (1992) and the CART Indy Car World Series(1993)), heaped praise on the brand:  "Huge congratulations to the team at Ultimotive on receiving the Queen's Award for Enterprise for their great successes in international trade.  I first became involved with Ultimotive in 2015 when I chose to be the brand ambassador for their Williams Racing™ brand.  Since then, I've seen Ultimotive go from strength to strength - on a global scale.  The brand direction is innovative and the team is dynamic.  Ultimotive is the one to watch for professional car care products."

Ultimotive Managing Director, Andy Smith commented “To be recognised in such a prestigious way, by meeting members of the royal family, is a great reward for our efforts with international trade.  Who would have thought that this company from Colchester, that I founded in 2003, would grow phenomenally and its brands would be known all over the world from professionals to household consumers?”

Employing thirteen staff at its Colchester headquarters, Ultimotive has a passion for inspiring and innovating – serving the world’s most ambitious brands in the car care sector.    

Conservative MP for Colchester, Hon. Will Quince MP, supported the application for the Queen’s Award for Enterprise and has taken an active interest in the company.  He commented, “Congratulations to the team at Ultimotive.  This award is not only excellent news for the company, but also for Essex as it illustrates the quality of commercial manufacturing in this part of the UK.  The Queen’s Award for Enterprise is a true accolade and is a perfect platform for the company to continue to grow internationally”.

Ultimotive received the Queen's Award from HRH Prince Charles at a reception at Buckingham Palace last night, 11th June. 

 

 

The Queen’s Award can be displayed for up to five years and, being from Her Majesty, is regarded as one of the most exclusive and prestigious awards for a UK company to win. It will be presented by the Lord Lieutenant of the County and members of the team will be invited to Buckingham Palace for an Award Winners Reception in June.

Applications for the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise 2020 are now open and close on 10 September 2019. They are free to enter, and it is a self-nominating process. Winners in the International Trade category receive a year's FREE membership to the IOE&IT.

For more information and to apply, visit: www.gov.uk/queens-awards-for-enterprise.