The King’s Awards for Enterprise are now in their 60th year. That’s six decades of recognising the businesses shaping the future of the UK economy.
For 2026, 186 businesses have been named winners of The King’s Awards for Enterprise: the UK’s most prestigious and credible business awards programme.
We update this page every May, when the new winners are announced, and keep a short summary of earlier years further down.
About The King’s Awards for Enterprise
Established by Royal Warrant in 1965, with the first winners announced in 1966, The King’s Awards for Enterprise have recognised more than 8,000 UK businesses for outstanding achievement.
Widely regarded as the highest official business accolade in the UK, the Awards celebrate organisations making a measurable impact through:
And for this milestone year, the Awards are expanding to champion the next generation with the launch of The King’s Award for Enterprise – Young Founder.
The new Young Founder category will spotlight founders aged 18–30 who are actively leading their businesses and building success with impact.
Winning a King’s Award is far more than just a trophy or PR moment.
For ambitious businesses, the awards act as a powerful third-party validation, which strengthens reputation, increases buyer confidence, and reinforces market leadership.
Who Won The King’s Awards for Enterprise 2026?
This year, 186 Awards have been granted, with Bristol-based Tailfin Ltd receiving recognition for both Innovation and International Trade for their specialist bike-packing and cycling products.
The full breakdown of winners includes:
- 76 awards for International Trade
- 52 awards for Innovation
- 36 awards for Sustainable Development
- 22 awards for Promoting Opportunity
From scaling technology firms and export-led innovators, to purpose-driven employers and sustainability leaders, the 2026 winners reflect a modern UK business landscape where growth, impact and credibility increasingly go hand in hand.
SME’s Leading the Way
For 2026, most notably:
- 89% of all Awards went to SMEs
- 13% of those SME winners were micro-businesses with 10 employees or fewer
Which just goes to show that you don’t need to be a household name to win this highly prestigious award.
If you have the right product or service, are making an impact, and you have evidence, strategy, positioning and a story to tell, you have a great chance of winning.
2026 King’s Awards for Enterprise Winners
Meet some of the 2026 King’s Award winners below, you can see the full list of winners in a special supplement of The Gazette here.
Stand Out Socks winners of the Promoting Opportunity category for their socks that create paid jobs for people with Down Syndrome. Every pair delivers bold, high-quality socks designed to stand out, while creating meaningful paid work.
Paradigm Norton Financial Planning have been awarded The King’s Award for Sustainable Development for their impact in delivering financial planning with purpose.With £1.5bn of assets under management, they focus on sustainable investment that fuels growth while contributing to a better future.
“Sustainability is something we seek to embed into how we operate as a business – in how we support our clients, our communities and the wider environment. We aim to be responsible investors, enabling financial decisions that support sustainable lives today and for future generations. It is wonderful to see that approach recognised externally. I could not be more proud of the work we are doing.”
Philippa Hann, CEO, Paradigm Norton Financial Planning
Travel Counsellors has received a King’s Award for Enterprise 2026 in Innovation for the continued evolution of the Travel Counsellors’ model and its commitment to innovating with purpose. A commitment that helps their corporate travel experts collaborate, share knowledge, and deliver responsive, personal support that meets the needs of their customers.
The Profs has received the King’s Award for Enterprise 2026 in International Trade. They are the first dedicated online tutoring company to receive this honour in the awards 60-year history. Since 2014 they have been on a mission to help students achieve life-changing results, and are now reaching over 120 countries.
In a LinkedIn post they said;
“Our success is entirely driven by the dedication of our team and incredible tutors, who work tirelessly to help students both raise their grades and secure places at top UK universities. We are excited about what comes next as we continue to grow internationally and help even more students achieve their academic goals.”
What King’s Awards for Enterprise Winners Actually Receive
Winners of the award are:
- invited to a Royal reception
- presented with the award at your company by one of The King’s representatives, a Lord-Lieutenant of your County
- able to fly The King’s Awards flag at your main office, and use the emblem on your marketing materials (for example, on your packaging, advertisements, stationery and website)
- given a Grant of Appointment (an official certificate) and a commemorative crystal trophy
The award win is valid for 5 years.
When used to its fullest, the award recognition becomes a long-term commercial asset that will support sales, marketing, recruitment, investor conversations and brand positioning long after the winners announcement.
How to enter the King’s Awards for Enterprise
Applications for The King’s Awards for Enterprise open each May, when the winners are announced, and usually close in September. They’re free to enter, and open to UK businesses with at least two employees.
And to mark the programme’s 60th anniversary, a brand-new category has been introduced for 2027: The King’s Award for Enterprise – Young Founder
Alongside the 4 core categories returning for 2026; Innovation, International Trade, Sustainable Development and Promoting Opportunity, the Young Founder category will recognise founders aged 18–30 who are actively leading businesses and driving growth, innovation and opportunity.
Find out if you’re eligible to enter by completing our eligibility form.
And if you want to learn more about the awards, come to our free King’s Awards for Enterprise Masterclass.
Previous King’s Awards for Enterprise winners
- 2025: 197 businesses won: 116 for International Trade, 46 for Innovation, 27 for Sustainable Development and 10 for Promoting Opportunity. 176 of them were SMEs. Sonardyne International and Delta Fire each won two awards, Brompton won for Sustainable Development, and Camp de Reves became the first Guernsey business to win. See the full 2025 list in The Gazette.
- 2024: 252 businesses won: 161 for International Trade, 59 for Innovation, 29 for Sustainable Development and 8 for Promoting Opportunity, and 5 won in two categories. See the full 2024 list in The Gazette.
- Before 2023: these were The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, renamed in 2023 after the accession of King Charles. In 2018, for example, 230 businesses won, including 152 for International Trade and 72 for Innovation.
King’s Awards for Enterprise winners: your questions
When are the King’s Awards for Enterprise winners announced?
In May. The 2024, 2025 and 2026 winners were all announced in May, and the full list is published in a supplement of The Gazette.
How many King’s Awards for Enterprise were given in 2026?
186: 76 for International Trade, 52 for Innovation, 36 for Sustainable Development and 22 for Promoting Opportunity. 89% went to SMEs.
Who can apply for a King’s Award for Enterprise?
Any UK business with at least two employees, and it’s free to enter. Applications open in May and usually close in September. The 2027 Awards add a Young Founder category for founders aged 18 to 30 who lead their own business.
What do King’s Award winners receive?
An invitation to a Royal reception, a presentation at your business by one of the King’s Lord-Lieutenants, a Grant of Appointment and a crystal trophy, and the right to fly the King’s Awards flag and use the emblem on your marketing for five years.
King’s Awards for Enterprise Application Masterclass
Join award-winning entrepreneur, international awards judge, and bestselling author Donna O’Toole and discover if you could win the most prestigious award in the world: The King’s Awards for Enterprise.
Donna is passionate about the true value of the King’s awards and the trust, authority, and growth they generate.
In this session you will come away knowing;
- What makes the businesses that win The King’s Awards stand out
- How to assess your chances of winning and identify your strongest route to success
- How to position your business to win, and turn that recognition into real commercial advantage
Plus there will be a Q&A with Donna, giving you the opportunity to ask your burning questions and get clarity on what you need to know to enter and win.
