Dorset Chamber is urging local businesses to apply for one of the most prestigious awards.

The Chamber is working with the Lord Lieutenant’s office in Dorset to promote the Queen’s Award for Enterprise, which will be announced next April on the Queen’s birthday. The year 2022 is the 70th anniversary of the Queen’s accession to the throne.

Winning an award offers a business multiple benefits including global recognition, increasing growth and boosting staff morale.

In recent years, Dorset has been under-represented at the awards – which are free to enter – despite many companies across the county being widely acknowledged as outstanding in the categories of innovation, international trade, sustainable development, and promoting opportunity through social mobility.

The deadline to enter the awards is midday on Wednesday 8 September.

Ian Girling, chief executive at Dorset Chamber, said: “The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are highly prized and are valid for five years.

“During this time recipients have the opportunity to benefit from improved opportunities to break into new markets, attracting investment offers and development interests, raised awareness of their brand and increased demand for products, enhanced ability to attract the best talent to their team and board and raised morale amongst employees and increased productivity.

“We are urging business to enter the awards for 2022 and celebrate Dorset’s excellence in all the categories.”

Winners also have the prestige of being invited to a Royal reception and having one of the Queen’s representatives, the Lord-Lieutenant, present the award at the company

Other benefits include the right to fly The Queen’s Awards flag at their main office, and use the emblem on marketing materials and being given a Grant of Appointment and a commemorative crystal trophy.

The award categories are innovation, international trade, sustainable development, and promoting opportunity through social mobility.

Applications are online via the Government’s web site: https://www.gov.uk/queens-awards-for-enterprise/how-to-apply