In 2018, on a recommendation from a UK Trade & Investment representative, we met software developer and SciChart Founder, Dr Andrew Burnett-Thompson. SciChart is the global leader in high-performance data visualisation, trusted by industries, including aerospace, oil and gas, scientific research, and motorsport.
We met with Andrew for a very specific reason: to assess his chances of winning a Queen’s Award for Enterprise – as they were known then, they are now named The King’s Awards for Enterprise.
Andrew had no idea how the awards worked. He didn’t think the business was ready and he was already far too busy to even think about awards!
Nonetheless, we had a chat and explained all the ins and outs of the competition. Giving him a fair, honest, and detailed assessment of their chances of winning.
The conclusion? Yes!
From our experience and understanding of the Awards, we knew SciChart would have a great chance.
Entering The (Then) Queen’s Awards for Enterprise
Andrew wasn’t so sure. He struggled to believe his small business would ever have a chance at winning the world’s most prestigious award.
“Donna explained what we needed to show, and told me how she would put our story together in a way that an awards judge would fully understand and appreciate what we do. I still can’t say I truly believed we could win, but we had nothing to lose by going for it, and Donna promised not to waste my time applying for an award if it wasn’t likely to be a success.”
The Queen’s, now King’s, Awards for Enterprise are not easy to win. And SciChart isn’t a basic product. But we love a challenge!
We had to learn;
- how it worked,
- why it was innovative,
- who needed it and why,
- where it was sold,
- how it was used
And so much more.
Not only that, we needed to analyse SciChart’s commercial performance. Comparing financial results and real-life impact with the rest of the market.
It was our job to deliver a strong nomination and leave no stone unturned.
Charting SciChart's Success
We took the whole process out of Andrew's hands. He could continue to run his business while we worked away in the background.
To cover every aspect of the criteria, we had to learn all about SciChart. The bespoke tech solution could plot millions of data-points, in real-time, clearly and effectively on mobile and PCs.
We talked to the team, gathered evidence, analysed growth, investigated their customer experience and evaluated the market.
With every award entry, we write – the business is the star of the show. We know how to show it off in the best light!
The result was mind-blowing for Andrew. It was announced (April 2019) that SciChart had won a Queen’s Award for Enterprise Award in the Innovation category!
The software business he had been building at 5am every day for months, before starting his day job, had been crowned one of the most successful businesses in the UK.
“I couldn’t be happier, or more shocked, to have won a Queen’s Awards for Enterprise for Innovation. Donna’s guidance was invaluable, and without her support and expertise we would have never even entered, never mind won!”
The Impact of Winning Prestigious Recognition
All winners of the King’s, previously Queen’s, Awards for Enterprise receive;
- A winner’s emblem to use on marketing materials
- A glass trophy delivered by The Lord Lieutenant of your County
- A winners reception as Buckingham Palace
- Authorisation to fly the King’s Awards flag at your company’s HQ
- Global visibility as a winner
For Andrew and SciChart, they received all of this and more.
Following the win, Andrew placed the winners emblem front and centre on his website, within 3 months of showcasing their achievement, SciChart’s turnover increased by 30%.
That’s because an awards emblem like The King’s Awards for Enterprise brings a level of trust and credibility you can’t find anywhere else, and makes selling so much easier.
They also went on to attract PR and media opportunities, a leading business mentor, and, building on the winning momentum, they also received a Highly Commended at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards.
SciChart now serves over 10,000 customers in 90 countries, and is the only solution used across Formula 1, relied upon by NASA, and favoured by 90% of top MedTech companies.
Could you Win The King’s Awards for Enterprise
Feeling inspired? Think you could be a King’s Awards for Enterprise winner? Then get in touch!
Like Andrew, we will consult with you and give you an honest assessment. If you’re not likely to win, we will make sure you understand why, and when to apply in the future.
UK Businesses of all sizes can win a King’s Award. To meet the basic eligibility criteria, all you need is at least 2 full-time employees, good commercial growth, and some CSR impact.
You can check your eligibility here. And find out the benefits of winning.
The nominations open in May and deadline in September each year. Nominations take 6-12 weeks to prepare. So if you want to enter, contact us early for your free assessment.
